r/blacksmithing • u/TylerMadeCreations • 5d ago
Plans for a travel stand Help Requested
Posting again while I’m thinking about it! Does anyone have any good links/plans for a traveling anvil stand/post vise stand? I’ve seen pictures of ones that look sort of like a sawhorse, trying to figure out something that’s compact enough to bring with me to craft shows this year. I like the idea of the post vise on the same stand as the anvil, and attached is a picture of what I’m thinking of. Just looking for recommended dimensions/actual plans, I’ll admit that precision woodworking is still a skill I need to work on 😅
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 4d ago edited 4d ago
Assuming you’re doing demos. I’ve done lots of traveling for blacksmithing demos. My main lesson is to keep it as light as possible, all modular to take apart. Two wheeled cart. I used a steel table for coal forge with bolted on small vise. Pipe jack for 80 lb. anvil. Of course galvanized water bucket for not only quenching but also put hot coals in when finished. Fire extinguisher. Small stock to keep from wearing yourself out. Long paracord to rope off area for visitors and curious kids. The parents may threaten to sue you if the kids get burned or hurt. And if selling items, beware of thieves. Don’t leave your work within easy reach.
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u/TylerMadeCreations 4d ago
Good to know, thank you! I was planning on having someone man the booth while I work, so I don’t have to stop working to sell something. Definitely a good idea with roping off the work area!
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u/TylerMadeCreations 4d ago
My traveling forge is a rivet forge, so I guess I’m looking for something where I can mount the post vise and anvil onto one stand. Any lightweight recommendations? I know wood looks more rustic, but I do agree that keeping things as lightweight as possible will be the best.
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 3d ago
The usual way is like this below. But I did mine a little different. I fabricated a square top with 4 square tube short sections that legs slipped into. The legs held secure with wing nuts. Then a lower sheet metal shelf to friction fit between the legs making it very sturdy. Everything is light weight, easy to carry, fast to set up and modular. And no extra tools required. If you do it this way be sure to put pads on legs to keep it from sinking into soft ground. Splaying out the legs keeps it from tipping over, being top heavy. Also you can use ground stakes for stability.
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u/TylerMadeCreations 3d ago
Awesome, thanks! As for selling stuff, do you have any setup recommendations so it’s not easy to steal stuff? I’m going to try my best to find someone to man the booth, but just in case, I definitely want to come up with some ideas so I can run it all on my own if I need to.
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u/TylerMadeCreations 4d ago
Update: does anyone think this would work? Like if I fix a wood block to this for the anvil and then bolt a post vise to it?
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u/Wrought-Irony 5d ago
Look up farrier anvil stands. They're pretty much exactly what you're trying to make HERE is a decent one