railroad rail anvil
- Thread starter teamarctic
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trainman1385
Well-known member
Wish I had one
I just nabbed 3 lengths of rail all 36" long. Had 4 however a fellow walked by and asked for one.
I am a heavy equipment operator and trenched down a street in Seattle, through old trolley tracks. Most likely turn of the century track, cant wait to cut a length down to 18" or so.
I am a heavy equipment operator and trenched down a street in Seattle, through old trolley tracks. Most likely turn of the century track, cant wait to cut a length down to 18" or so.
M_George
Well-known member
I started out with one before I bought my 200lb anvil. I still use it and found that it works well for forming sheet metal.
ndnchf
Well-known member
txlonghorn1989
Well-known member
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- Feb 27, 2017
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Asking price on CL here in Austin for that piece would be well over $100. Not sure people are paying that but that's what the sellers are asking for 'em. I would definitely have bought it.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That is a very good size.
ndnchf
Well-known member
If someone wants to get into the railroad track anvil business, here is your chance.
https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/mat/d/railroad-rails/6568116527.html
https://charlottesville.craigslist.org/mat/d/railroad-rails/6568116527.html
I can quickly buy at 1usd/1 kg. By carefully looking around I can find rails at 0.4 usd/kg but it takes times and must be lucky.
Thanks.
Nice.
Nice suggestion.
Thanks.
Nice.
Nice suggestion.
I work for nationally known railroad. I have several in my shop. The way you can tell how much it ways is looking on the side of the web. Not on all the pieces that are cut, But, if you get lucky you will see 90, 100, 132,136. This means that every 3 feet of that rail weights 90 pounds,100 pounds and so on. Railroad rail is premium steel.
If you lived closer to me I could get you all you heart desired. We have piles of scrap laying around. " Tip " Find a local railroad depot near you and talk to the roadmaster and ask him would let you have a piece or two. Most railroaders are approachable. Offer him a 6pack for his trouble.
bubinga
Well-known member
Sweet!Better go back and pick it up.
P.S. Don't forget the grinding wheels
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TerryH
Well-known member
There is a sizable rail yard/train maintenance facility in my town. Stopped by there yesterday and inquired. Flat no from them when I asked about buying a piece even though I see piles of it cut into 3' ish lengths. Oh well.
I think you can buy one here: very nice
He sells 10 inches raw anvil at 20 usd, and an 12 inches fully finished at about 70 usd.
https://m.facebook.com/trackanvil/
He sells 10 inches raw anvil at 20 usd, and an 12 inches fully finished at about 70 usd.
https://m.facebook.com/trackanvil/
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unknownroad
Well-known member
Can't beat the OP's price, but I bought one from this guy on ebay a few months back- he has a bunch of options for less than $2/lb delivered in the US. Haven't had time to grind a horn on it yet, but still a handy thing to have around.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/railanvil2004/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
https://www.ebay.com/sch/railanvil2004/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
bubinga
Well-known member
Thank You!
Jon_E
Well-known member
I was doing a large land survey job, maybe 20 years ago, along a section of railroad track. Found an 18"-ish length of rail with a 1" hole crudely torched through the web, laying in the bushes and partially buried. It was off the right-of-way, so fair game to me. Problem was, I had a survey instrument, tripod and a pack full of gear, and I was almost a mile from my truck. That was a hard trip back for a fat guy. I have it setting on the stone wall next to my basement door in case I ever need something to use as an anvil. Someday I'll clean it up and put it in the shop.
Brian_WK
Well-known member
Also don;t flip the track over the steel on top is harder (but more brittle) than the steel on the bottom (softer but more give/flex) Hence why when they join/repair a rail they use a premade crucible that has the hardened crown as well as the softer metal that is turned molten all done by thermite.
Brian
Brian
Robby321
Well-known member
I've got one and its used often!
Bockscar
Well-known member
I have two pieces....one is a smaller gauge....not sure where it would have come from
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Hmmm, For as many times as I've posted in this tread, I never did post my RR anvil or track pieces! :
Is there another Track Anvil thread?
Anyway, rectifying my omission:
I Picked this one up about 4 years ago at a yard sale as part of a deal with a Wilton vise, so maybe 5-10 bucks worth of that? (or free as the Wilton was worth several times the total cost)
I have used it for one hot forging job and a couple of cold forming jobs. I just hit it real quick tonight with the belt sander to see how it would clean up and it looks like it will clean up pretty nice once I dig in.
Weighs just under 14-1/2 lbs, (it's NOT the std train rail - much lighter) and exactly 16 inches long.. Whoever did it did a pretty nice job, and the Hardie hole was a nice added feature; you don't see many fabbed RR anvils with that. Its a tad smaller at 3/4", vs. my 100 pound Mc's and 7/8"
I've also picked up a number of small light gauge track pieces, two of which someone spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning them up! the larger of those two is a presentation piece from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge rails from when they were removed about 1960.
All of these are very light, even lighter than the Anvil piece which is light, and no two are the same weight. Maybe someday I'll find a piece that is the more normal big train track pieces.
Is there another Track Anvil thread?
Anyway, rectifying my omission:
I Picked this one up about 4 years ago at a yard sale as part of a deal with a Wilton vise, so maybe 5-10 bucks worth of that? (or free as the Wilton was worth several times the total cost)
I have used it for one hot forging job and a couple of cold forming jobs. I just hit it real quick tonight with the belt sander to see how it would clean up and it looks like it will clean up pretty nice once I dig in.
Weighs just under 14-1/2 lbs, (it's NOT the std train rail - much lighter) and exactly 16 inches long.. Whoever did it did a pretty nice job, and the Hardie hole was a nice added feature; you don't see many fabbed RR anvils with that. Its a tad smaller at 3/4", vs. my 100 pound Mc's and 7/8"
I've also picked up a number of small light gauge track pieces, two of which someone spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning them up! the larger of those two is a presentation piece from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge rails from when they were removed about 1960.
All of these are very light, even lighter than the Anvil piece which is light, and no two are the same weight. Maybe someday I'll find a piece that is the more normal big train track pieces.
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TerryH
Well-known member
So the wife ordered one of these for my birthday. 1913 Carnegie rail. Can't wait to get it. Now I'm looking for another to actually use. The stuff from this guy is almost too pretty. lol...
https://scontent-dfw5-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/25152123_1675869139124941_7064367482390089270_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=AeFu9sUIl_IT7J3MBFnLRwpB25jVpKSkTE_l9hPcQ8wMo41rr-bwoIRLgoYFKJe72QIJyn5bLIyd-gJ1NHmnBGAXDRZgvvLqCLzUigHrLlS4vg&oh=5eb0380a4c574606d7b223003e352dae&oe=5BAE2C6B
TerryH
Well-known member
My Carnegie rail anvil has landed.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
bubinga
Well-known member
southalabama
Well-known member
Those Carneige anvils are nice. Thanks for the link.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
My opinion? They're awfully light, but for light work, as long as they're ancient, well used, and as such extremely work hardened, they are amazing. I have 2 - one mainline SP rail from the Carnegie mills probably in the 20's, one light rail from Bethlehem from the 30's. Both are amazing, they're still not like a *real* anvil, but damn, if I had nothing else, I could abuse that hunk of railroad steel until it was a swaleback.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Let’s revive this old thread.
I have 2
The smaller one with the vise on top is 6 1/2 inches long
The other one is 9 1/2 inches long. I picked it up at an estate sale for $8
Was this some kind of demonstration model or shop class exercise to show welding? Is this the result of thermite welding?
I have 2
The smaller one with the vise on top is 6 1/2 inches long
The other one is 9 1/2 inches long. I picked it up at an estate sale for $8
Was this some kind of demonstration model or shop class exercise to show welding? Is this the result of thermite welding?
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dkroth
Well-known member
This one is for sale near me. I've been watching it for a week just because it is so unique.
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Shiftless
Well-known member
This one is for sale near me. I've been watching it for a week just because it is so unique.
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That would make an impressive hood ornament for a rat rod. .
.
Old post, but this guy is only 30 or so minutes from me. Hopefully he's still doing this. Just messaged him for an order.
macgee
Well-known member
If you do, like others have suggested, ask for the most used (high traffic) rail that he has, they're better and more hardened. Also ask for the widest (like a 175 Crane) and flattest top, it will be well worth paying a little more for that compared to some I'm seeing in his photo's, they'll be way more practical and usable. Also, I would avoid the long overhang railroad anvils, they look cool but don't make for very good anvils.
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Shiftless
Well-known member
macgee has given excellent advice. I have tried to file a piece of old rail and it seemed as though the hardness of the rail was about the same as the hardness of the file.
The number he mentioned and that you see elsewhere refers to the weight of a piece one yard (36 inches) long.
So a piece of Crane 175 one foot long would be 58 pounds. That’s a nice chunk for the top of your workbench.
The number he mentioned and that you see elsewhere refers to the weight of a piece one yard (36 inches) long.
So a piece of Crane 175 one foot long would be 58 pounds. That’s a nice chunk for the top of your workbench.
Pontiac787
Well-known member
I’ve got a an 8’ section in the shed. What is the best way to cut it to size? Torch it then grind it smooth?
Thank you gentlemen!
I haven't heard back - no idea if he's still operating, but will definitely ask about the things mentioned.
steaks&anvils
Well-known member
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I found a 4 ft piece this summer while out canoeing... going to make an anvil or two and some book ends.