Just hit 500 shoes on my new anvil and the difference is real

I bought a new 70 pound anvil about six months ago and have been keeping a rough count. I finally hit 500 shoes shaped on it this morning. The horn and face have worn in just right, and my hammer strikes feel way more solid now. It took that many to really break it in and get a feel for the steel. Has anyone else noticed a big change after hitting a certain number on a new tool?

2 comments

2 Comments

hall.ruby12h ago

Yeah, my new rounding hammer felt like a brick for the first hundred or so hits. Then around 300, the balance just clicked and it started to feel like an extension of my arm. It's wild how a tool shapes itself to your work over time.

nathan_foster6010h agoTop Commenter

Interesting take @hall.ruby. Honestly, a good hammer should feel right from the start, not need a break-in period. The tool should work for you, not the other way around.