Railroad track anvil

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A little long nose anvil I cut from a piece of track about 25 years ago.Spends most of its time as a door stop, do use it once in awhile, has a great ring to it.(.....no trains were derailed in the making of this.....)What goes around, comes around.
Reply:Looks good, I've been meening to make one of those for years.
Reply:I have one of those that I built years ago. It's snout isn't as long as yours though. Railroad iron is tough stuff.
Reply:That's one of the best I've seen.  But I would hate to fall backards onto that thing!Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I like it. I need to find a smallish chunk to do that to. All the chunks I usually find are too short. I could use another anvil or 3..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Nice anvil - I got one with a short nose, whole thing's maybe a foot and a half long.  Tougher than a two-bit steak, and they sure do ring pretty ....DSW, you might see about asking some of the railroad employees next time they're out on a job site near your location.  Now and then they have different odd bits laying around, and you might get lucky.
Reply:Here's one I built years back.
Reply:FYI some interesting web sites. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_trackshttp://www.naciente.com/essay94.htm
Reply:Interesting reading, that.Good-looking anvil, Bob.  is that all torch-cut, or ground down?
Reply:It was torch cut close and then ground to shape. Half the top was left rounded and the other half was squared by building up with welding then ground and finally sanded with a belt sander to true the top. You could buy one cheaper than the time it took to build.
Reply:True, but a store-bought one wouldn't be as cool as a hand-built one.
Reply:It's hard to find a good store bought one today. Most are POS's unless you really look..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:need one myself ,,never can find the rail to use
Reply:Will ordinary Oxy-Ac cut that?
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenWill ordinary Oxy-Ac cut that?
Reply:I used a #2 tip to cut it. Cut the sides of the horn first, then cut the top and bottom of the horn next. Then cut the base. Weld in the top edges with 7010 or other rod with moly. Start grinding.
Reply:I forgot to mention, there are different sizes of rail. The taller sizes have a bigger top and make a taller and, I think, a  better anvil.
Reply:I just had the piece I got at the scrap yard flat ground for $20 by a local shop, he even gave me some pieces of d2 for my knifemaking endeavors.Hobart 125Words mean things
Reply:Might have come out of CF&I  in Colorado.  They supplied a lot of rails to the Western US.Plant's gone now I think, or just a shell of what it was.Used to pull thru Pueblo late at night, and see the lights on the plant.  It was up and running 24/7 in those days.  Hauled many a trailer load of nails out of the wire plant.Coal originally came out of Walsenburg.  Was a thriving community at one timeBest Itallian food on the Front Range could be had in parts of Pueblo in those days.Days gone by I guess"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Attachment 37120I don't know. Someone had a plan.Last edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:41 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepAttachment 37120I don't know. Someone had a plan.
Reply:nice anvil, don't have one but looks like a good project if I come across some rail. As for cutting them I think my father once told me when they scrapped them they would cut half through them , hit them with ice water and slap them with a sledge and they would shear off. I was a little kid so I don't remember if he meant the webs , the flanges or what. as I recall they are pretty stout, I don't see them shearing off but I never tried it."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by compneed one myself ,,never can find the rail to use
Reply:I would really like a 12" piece of track...willing to pay
Reply:Originally Posted by IamVinceI would really like a 12" piece of track...willing to paythanks Bill ..no hurry\Just one of those thing I need for my shop but not sure what I'll use it for.
Reply:rad3766...I apologize for hijacking your thread... if this rail thing becomes a reality, I will start a new thread.  Thanks for your patience.Bill
Reply:Originally Posted by Bill S.rad3766...I apologize for hijacking your thread... if this rail thing becomes a reality, I will start a new thread.  Thanks for your patience.Bill
Reply:One thing that I've seen some blacksmiths do is to take an inexpensive anvil and improve it by building it up with hardfacing rod then grinding it down to the desired shape.  This would probably work well for the top surfaces of these anvils made from rail sections.
Reply:Here is my Big Anvil... I am thinking about trading it for a decent brand name mig welder or something else I can weld thin sheet metal with.  My fluxcore only goes down to 60 amps (Clarke 95) and that is too hot.  It will not take gas (without some serious conversion) and I need something so I can restore/repair my rusted 1979 Plymouth Trail Duster.Here it is.... it is over 200 pounds, 32" long and 13" high. Attached Images
Reply:I finally weighed the "Green Monster,"  292 pounds.Also, my wife went to check on the rail sections, but her cousin had a lot of company and she did not get a chance to talk to him   She knows another guy who works for the RR and is going to check with him this week.  I told her to try to get some 18" sections if she can.I don't know... we will try.  Maybe we will have some luck.Bill