Anvils and Hammers

The dwarves already have the means to make the best anvils of the pre-modern kind. The body is hardcast, built by forge-welding smaller masses together. The face is medium steel, forge-welded on and hardened, because hardcast, like wrought iron, cannot be hardened itself. Hammers follow the same pattern of a steel face on a tougher body. Size is limited by how much hardcast can be welded, and a poor weld can break off a horn or heel. Pig iron is no use here, since a cast iron anvil cracks and dents.

Making anvils gave the dwarves a reason to develop competency in working hardcast. The architectural use of hardcast was an evolution from that.

See also: Hardcast, Hardcast Works, Steel, Pig Iron