(Reciprocating Hammer) 'ANVILS' => 16 photos

 In this essay, I'm not explaining the setting processes, but only the uses of the Reciprocating Hammer 'anvil'.

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 This is a "Reciprocating Hammer" as it appears in your tool supply shop, or now 'online'.

 The hammer anvil shown here is busy doing its stone setting. You notice I'll be using this anvil in two directions, namely, 'width or length'.

 For maximum security, I place my ring on the steel mandrel. This will give me better hitting support, thus preventing any underlying lack of pressure from the hitting process.

 The only technique I use in using this power hammer is to gently 'move' the metal OVER THE BEZEL OF THE STONE. 

 I never use a hand-held hammer to 'pound' the stone bezels. 

 This photo shows the completed gem-setting process. Absolute care is so important in this delicate stone setting.

 I might suggest in lowering the 'pressure setting' on the reciprocating hammer handle, as this will reduce the risk of damaging the stone.

 With the 'sculptured' anvil, I'll rotate the anvil to the 'width' as only the anvil will make little contact.

 Don't allow the 'hitting anvil' to make any direct contact with the stone. I always leave a sliver of metal near the delicate stone. I call this technique 'leaving a little bumper' where necessary.

  When the anvil gets worn from so much constant hitting, how is it then repaired? The easiest technique is to use the "Snap-On" Emery wheels of #220 grit, or "Medium" grade.

  A complete refurbishing of the top of this anvil is badly needed.

  New anvils are sold to the clients in a 'rounded' shape. It's up to them to design the anvil to their required needs.

 "From one shape to another" is shown here. All that is required is to experiment with these Emery wheels & disks to create your own anvil.

 Two 'round' anvils are very new, and the parallel-shaped edges are the ones that have been greatly modified.

  Here is a live-action Emery wheel shaping the tip of an anvil.

 Here is a 'course textured' emery wheel getting ready for the shaping process.

  This photo displays what a 'hammer anvil' looks like after many weeks of constant 'hitting'.

 When the need to use a particular spot on the anvil arises, it isn't there! There are pieces of the anvil actually missing. What happens then? 

 Here is another less destroyed anvil, but it's soon getting ready to be repaired. You can see that the 'corners' are looking almost rounded. This is not good!