rail road track anvil

[dadler]

Hi all-

Just wanted to share some pics of the rail road track anvil that lotsoftools was nice enough to craft for me. Just received this in the mail--got to love flat rate USPS boxes!

It has 1918 on the side, which is a sentimental year for me.

Next to a fhx80 for size comparison.

I had never heard of people making anvils out of rail road track before, but what a cool idea and great way to reuse steel that would otherwise be sitting unused!

D

 

[NKlamerus]

That looks awesome!

 

[slickstysix]

Very cool! Wonder how you cut something that hard...

 

[monomach]

Very cool! Wonder how you cut something that hard...

Only the top is really hard. The bottom and middle cut pretty easily.

1) flip it over and start from the bottom
2) stop before you get to the top part of the I shape
3) let it cool off
4) stick a block under the cut and whack the hell out of the top with a sledgehammer. It just snaps at the cut.
5) get out the grinder and get to work cleaning it up

Torches, fancypants bandsaws with coolant systems, and chop saws all work for the cut.

 

[lotsoftools]

Thanks for the props Dadler.

Really, it cuts pretty easy. I cut it off the stick with a portaband. I used a regular bi-metal holesaw (Lenox works good, the Milwaukee failed instantly) to make the rounds in the web. Then I used the portaband to make straight cuts into the round. The rest is done with the grinder using a rock and a flap wheel.

 

[snapmom]

 

[pendragon1998]

How well do they hold up to beating on them compared to a 'real' anvil? Do they ding all up?

 

[woodstockva]

Awesome craftsmanship! You really have a lot of talent to make one look so nice!

 

[organ]

They don't have the weight under them like a true anvil... best way to use RR track as an anvil would be to stand it on end and use it that way.

 

[-Brent-]

I've got a couple pieces I want to make into anvil (shaped objects) but I haven't done it because I'm really unsure of the shape I want. Does anyone have input on this? The one the OP posted is nice and simple and I probably don't need more than that but the traditional anvil shape is very appealing. I'm just not sure if it's necessary.

 

[organ]

I've got a couple pieces I want to make into anvil (shaped objects) but I haven't done it because I'm really unsure of the shape I want. Does anyone have input on this? The one the OP posted is nice and simple and I probably don't need more than that but the traditional anvil shape is very appealing. I'm just not sure if it's necessary.

It depends on what you're gonna be using it for... if you just need something to beat on, a big block of 4140 would probably serve you better...

 

[Packard V8]

Half the utility of an anvil is how it is mounted. And half the smiths swear by a large section of oak (or chestnut ;>) trunk. Another half want it mounted to a sand-filled thick-wall steel pipe set in 3' of concrete. The third half (smiths didn't all major in math) have their own individual base designs.

Bottom line - for most home shops, a section of rail is the most cost-effective anvil. I've been using one forever. BTW. rail comes in many different weights and heights, usually specified by pounds-per-yard. Heavier "main line" rail (155#/yard was the heaviest ever) is preferable.

 

[drivesitfar]

Lotsoftools: very nice work on that piece of RR track. are you selling them and for how much if you don't mind saying or PM ing me? I have one i'm getting ready to mount that is a little bigger that someone in years past did quite a bit of work on.

All: Most of you already know this, but some don't so just want to throw it out there. REAL anvils should only be used to shape hot metal on and not used for cold steel pounding. they are not built for that and that's why you see so many of them with chipping off the edges. My avatar is a homemade anvil or shape that a tin and soft metal bender made and one of these days i'll drop it in the E tank and paint it up and use it again.

 

[dadler]

How well do they hold up to beating on them compared to a 'real' anvil? Do they ding all up?

I have barely used this in the 2 days of owning it, but my intended use case is for shaping/bending aluminum and thin mild/stainless steel for making brackets. It seems perfectly suited to that task--and I love the size and especially the price!

Someone else will have to speak to longevity--but rail track is hardened steel and I imagine that the immense cyclic load applied by trains over time only further hardens the rail top via some form of work hardening. Entirely hypothesizing here though.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dadler: i'd say you are right on about the RR track getting harder as time and trains use them. sounds like you have the correct tool for the job and that would make any bench look better.

 

[ZRX61]

I've got a couple pieces I want to make into anvil (shaped objects) but I haven't done it because I'm really unsure of the shape I want. Does anyone have input on this? The one the OP posted is nice and simple and I probably don't need more than that but the traditional anvil shape is very appealing. I'm just not sure if it's necessary.

Before:

 

[Outlawmws]

I was waiting to see ZRX post his RRT anvils. There were a few more superlative RRT's in a thread a couple of years ago; some amazing work. A couple of weeks ago I passed on a nicely made smaller one. So nicely made the owner was sure it was the real thing. I had to disillusion him, but he still wanted it more than I did. I did give it the bounce test just for grins, and no, it wasn't up to high quality anvil standards, but it wasn't half bad al things considered (it had been milled/ground flat on top)

Here is a small piece I picked up at a yard sale a couple of years ago to keep next to my vise so I'm not tempted to be using it for an anvil. Only about 4-1/4 X 4-3/4, it's a light rail. as you can see the former owners wailed on it pretty good, so no, they won't take complete abuse, same as a regular anvil. Hot forging, or softer metals, no problem. Cold forging and you get this:

 

[organ]

Looks like the top of most anvils you'll find...

 

[OkRider]

I have a couple pieces of RR track laying around and looking at some of you guy's homemade anvils have given me some ideas and inspiration to make one someday.

 

[nine4gmc]

Nice banger Dadler, and good work lotsoftools!

ZRX, someone spent some time on that piece

Here is my RRT banger I picked up at a garage sale a while back, sitting next to a HF anvil(shaped object ) and a lil Japan jewelers anvil. It's just torched but I plan to hit it with a grinder to clean up the edges and maybe mill the top flat once I get my milling machine up and running.

 

[ZRX61]

I was waiting to see ZRX post his RRT anvils. There were a few more superlative RRT's in a thread a couple of years ago; some amazing work.

I wish I could claim responsibility for the work, but I think I paid $40 or $45 for both anvils & the two wrenches in the *before* pic.
I wish I had a pic of one I found on the internet years ago. It was about 3ft long & the snout made up about half of that. 18in or so of perfectly tapered, round that ended with a tip that was maybe 3/8in dia. A true work of art, wish I knew how the hell the owner did it because I sure as hell can't picture that much weight spinning around off-center in a home based lathe.

 

[cat-mechanic]

I have a chunk of the rail for the roof slides at Chase Field, AZ Diamondbacks ballpark.

It makes railroad iron look tiny. I need to dig it out and see what I can do with it.

 

[RivennHewn]

here's my little ASO

 

[Aspen RT]

I must apologize to Lotsoftools, I also bought one of his anvils and I didn't think about posting pics of it. I think he did a great job of making these and it should come in very handy.

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[sberry]

Wasn't shaped for an anvil. Used as one on occasion.

 

[383 240z]

I was told by a blacksmith I apprenticed under a few decades ago, "There is a hot corner of Hell reserved for a man who pounds cold iron on an anvil"

My father sold my 276# Pennyweight anvil while I was away at college, still haven't forgiven him for that. His rational was, you have't used in in years, I was away at school!!! I then pointed out he hasn't shot his 1780's Pennsylvania long rifle in a long time, should I sell it??? Any way I have a cheap ASO that I use when I HAVE to, I did however find a 3-4' section of main rail that I'll be forming into a small anvil to tide me over until I find a nice 200# sized real anvil. Keith

 

[organ]

I was told by a blacksmith I apprenticed under a few decades ago, "There is a hot corner of Hell reserved for a man who pounds cold iron on an anvil"

My father sold my 276# Pennyweight anvil while I was away at college, still haven't forgiven him for that. His rational was, you have't used in in years, I was away at school!!! I then pointed out he hasn't shot his 1780's Pennsylvania long rifle in a long time, should I sell it??? Any way I have a cheap ASO that I use when I HAVE to, I did however find a 3-4' section of main rail that I'll be forming into a small anvil to tide me over until I find a nice 200# sized real anvil. Keith

No offense... but what an *******.

 

[383 240z]

Normally I would take SERIOUS offense to your calling my father that. However in this case it is warranted. Dad and I had a very different relationship at that point in my life. I've learned to understand him a lot better as I got older. He doesn't have a lot of time left in this world and I'm not going to waste any of it fighting with him over things that happened 20 years ago. Keith

 

[panknuckshovel]

I deliver to a cranky old coot in plant city, FL who has MILES of rails stacked in his yard. He sells 12" pieces for $10 and 24" for $20. You cannot bring any type of vehicle or loader on to his property, but if you can move it and load it by yourself you can have a full rail for free.

 

[MagnumForce]

My Dad is 70 and has his dad's old 18 inch piece of railroad track he used as an anvil. My Grandpa would be 114 years old so this thing is probably about as old. He always used it as a portable anvil to change cutter blades on the combine out in the field.

 

[gearhead1]

I deliver to a cranky old coot in plant city, FL who has MILES of rails stacked in his yard. He sells 12" pieces for $10 and 24" for $20. You cannot bring any type of vehicle or loader on to his property, but if you can move it and load it by yourself you can have a full rail for free.

Hmmm, that makes my gears turn. Would a dolly count as a vehicle? Or does vehicle mean more like a truck and/or trailer? If a dolly is allowed, I'd make an upside down U frame and pick the rail up in the exact center so it balances. There's a way to do it.

 

[Dberglind]

Here's my small track for pounding on stuff.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/27/original/uvu7a6an.jpg

 

[mechanicalmoron]

They look so cool.

Considering what horrible anvils they are, when made the traditional way.

But, I'd love a piece of track to play around on - I bet they could be built up with stick welding on the sides, to give them a big enough waist to bounce properly - and so they'd be indistinguishable from a normal (small) anvil.

 

[beatcad]

Normally I would take SERIOUS offense to your calling my father that. However in this case it is warranted. Dad and I had a very different relationship at that point in my life. I've learned to understand him a lot better as I got older. He doesn't have a lot of time left in this world and I'm not going to waste any of it fighting with him over things that happened 20 years ago. Keith

you are a gentleman. yes if someone else called my dad an ******* I would come out swinging. only I can call him an *******
but I know where your coming from.
when I was away at college my dad GAVE away my '76 MG.
that was 20/25 years ago and I've been over it for way to long.
the older I get the more my dad and I get along

to bring this back on topic i'll show pic of my RR anvils tomorrow

 

[PCO6]

I have a piece of rail that's too short to reshape into more typical anvil. It's what I would call "train" size rail . I have another piece that's about 40" long and has a smaller cross section. I think it was used for some kind of industrial trolley car or something similar. I could probably cut a foot or so off and reshape it.

View media item 38710
View media item 41523

 

[hofferwood]

Here's mine



A little cleanup







More to do-------when I get a chance

 

[panknuckshovel]

Hmmm, that makes my gears turn. Would a dolly count as a vehicle? Or does vehicle mean more like a truck and/or trailer? If a dolly is allowed, I'd make an upside down U frame and pick the rail up in the exact center so it balances. There's a way to do it.

Willing to bet he wont let a dolly fly. He wont even let two guys carry a rail. Its almost like he has a serious you want it earn it mentality.

 

[beatcad]

heres mine.
the smaller more anvil shaped one was made by my wifes grandpa.
I really wanted to clean it up(the rough cuts/edges) but she said i'm not allowed to mess w/ it. i'm fine w/ that.
the bigger one I found at a yard sale already perfectly cut at exactly 1'. It was crusty & rusty. I soaked it in evaporust for a week and painted it.
yes I know these aint real anvils, but I aint a blacksmith. I use 'em as if they were a dolly to straighten sheet metal and thicker metal brackets and bits.
I aint forging stuff.
theyre fine for what I do.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Another product from lotsoftools....here's mine!

 

[lotsoftools]

I like that paint job.