Homemade Rail Anvil

[rickairmedic]

Originally Posted by Tony T.

Well that friend of mine told me this morning that there was about a 9 or 10 foot piece of railroad railing at his Dad's place that I could have if I wanted it. The kicker is, it's been laying out behind his Dad's shop up close to a fence and it was partically buried in the ground. Just been laying there so long that it sunk down in the ground.

He said he tried to pick up one end to check it out to see if it was still worth taking, but it was to heavy for him to lift,that if I wanted to come over we could take a pry bar and lift it up and check it out if I was still interested.

I'm afraid it's going to be junk myself.

Tony

Tony have you ever seen Cutters vise I am prety sure it was found in the same position as the rail you are talking about and it turned out quite nice .

Rick

[RegionalChaos]

...
I'm afraid it's going to be junk myself.

Tony

Oh, I'd imagine the rail is just fine. Some people choose to put rail end up in a bucket of cement, and work on it that way if it flat enough. Just about any big hunk of metal can make an OK anvil though. A lot of knife smiths use 2"x2" bar.

[keenavv]

Used off & on for the last 30-40 yrs

[RegionalChaos]

Some people will advocate getting a cheapy HF anvil instead of using rail. They feel that the rail does not provide enough mass to move metal. I guess it would depend on how thick of metal you are working, and how often you want to use it, plus what you are securing the rail to, and how heavy that is. I would probably go with the HF anvil over rail, then look at upgrading to a better anvil after your skill improves. Sometimes it can take a good while to find a decent anvil as well.. Although if the rail is free then it's price sure beats HF.

[Tony T.]

I'm still going to check it out, I just figured with it lying partially buried,no air, and wet conditions in the ground that it maybe severely rusted and pitted up. I guess I was hoping he had it resting up on a couple 4x4 post or something, up off the ground. I hope I'm wrong about the rusting out,sure wouldn't be the first time.


I have seen the HF anvils and considered one them also, I just thought it would be cool to have one of the homemade rail anvils, someone looks at it and you could say "yeah!" I made that plus it being useful around the shop.cool:

I'll have to read cutters vise through out.



Tony

[Photomask]

Originally Posted by Tony T.

I'm still going to check it out, I just figured with it lying partially buried,no air, and wet conditions in the ground that it maybe severely rusted and pitted up. I guess I was hoping he had it resting up on a couple 4x4 post or something, up off the ground. I hope I'm wrong about the rusting out,sure wouldn't be the first time.

Go for it!

Don't let a little rust pitting slow you down.

Once you get it roughly torched into the shape you want.... Grind & sand it to the final shape and finish you want. Go all the way to good metal and it will be impressive. Not to mention honing your skills at metal finishing.

[grumpy]

FWIW have you looked at the import jobs from Grizzly?

http://grizzlyindustrial.com/product...s.aspx?q=anvil

[rustluver]

Originally Posted by grumpy

FWIW have you looked at the import jobs from Grizzly?

http://grizzlyindustrial.com/product...s.aspx?q=anvil

I've got the 100# Grizzly anvil that I picked up at the Springfield, MO store a few years ago but I seldom use it because the cast iron is so soft. I have an 18" length of 90# rail that is much better suited to pounding on.

[RegionalChaos]

There is a fun read here, about making your own anvil. Don't think I'd want to do it, but its a fun read none the less.

[Bolt]

That's the link I was looking for but couldn't find. Thanks!