My anvil face was pitted and gray after 3 months of beginner hammering, then one vinegar soak showed me what I was missing

Terry Lewis · 2026-10-08T23:05:03.819258+00:00

Honestly I picked up a used 100 lb anvil in March and the face was so rough that every hammer strike slid around instead of biting. I finally took 20 minutes last weekend and soaked a rag in white vinegar, laid it on the face, and scrubbed with a wire brush, and the difference was night and day. The pitting and rust came off in sheets and underneath was a smooth surface that actually rebounds the hammer. Ngl I broke two sets of tongs trying to work on that crusty face because the steel kept slipping. Has anyone else dealt with a rough anvil face like this, and did you go with vinegar or something like a flap disc?

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My anvil face was pitted and gray after 3 months of beginner hammering, then one vinegar soak showed me what I was missing | Blacksmiths - Talk Freely