Everything Mac Posted December 27, 2015 Share Posted December 27, 2015 Cheers buddy! She's a beast. All the best Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsrusa Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 So, when I started after building my forge this summer, I had an ASO from Harbor Freight. After using it a bit and understanding why they are held in such disdain here and elsewhere, I realized that the 30 inch piece of railroad rail that someone had very roughly cut out a horn shape on would be a better anvil for me with some modifications, as the eBay and even Centaur Forge anvils would be a no go from the wife after everything else I've spent on this hobby. So I used a 5 inch angle grinder and a cutoff wheel to cut as deep as possible all the way around at about 9 inches tall, but there was still a lot of connection. Based on advice from this site I put one end on a 4x4 and hit it a few times with a 10 lb sledgehammer and it broke in two. I'll post more when the two pieces are cleaned up and on a stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Use that rail on end, not laying down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 For some reason this "Show Me Your Anvil" came up when I opened IFI tonight and it started at page 1 June 13 2006. Glenn started it and now has 157 pages to it and of course the vast majority of the pictures have been lost. I looked at the first couple pages and noticed the same subjects, "Where do I find an anvil?", "How do I set a Price?" etc. and even a name from page 1 "Dodge" telling of making an anvil. Unfortunately the bulk of the names I haven't seen since my 2 yrs on here started. I found it quite interesting reading and would encourage others to take a look, you can still learn things from the past even 10 yrs. past. Thanks Glenn for the history lesson! It now says 57 pages? I know it said 157 when it first opened up?? I feel like Rip Van Wrinkle lost 100 pages somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsrusa Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 That's why I cut it in two. One will be standing on end, and the other that already has a rough horn cut out I'll have laying horizontally. The one on end I'll cut out one or two horns on the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankS Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 New to me 152lb Trenton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsrusa Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Here is the horn beginning to take shape after another cutting session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsrusa Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 After another grinding session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frozenforge Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Your getting there. Here is a pic of the best looking RR track I've ever seen. They put alot of effort into that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 That's a work of art! The horn looks machined ... very precise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 6 hours ago, ausfire said: That's a work of art! Looks too nice to hit with a hammer, I'd have it in my living room at least till my wife got home! Very nice indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 1 hour ago, notownkid said: Looks too nice to hit with a hammer, I'd have it in my living room at least till my wife got home! Very nice indeed. I kept my 148lb Mousehole in the living room next to the couch for all the years I lived in NYC apartments and wasn't smithing. My wife is glad that I've started up again, since she's not tripping over it any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfsrusa Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 It was 9 degrees out today, so I moved into the garage. Frosty will probably say that's a veritable heatwave, but I like being able to feel my fingers when working with an angle grinder. I cut out somewhat of a horn on the web of the piece that will stand on end and a bending bar on the other side. It has a nice ring to it, but the hammer leaves small indents in the top. Is that normal? Will it be much of a problem? I am just a hobbyist, and I am not looking for perfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Naw, 9f. is cold, I stay inside by the fire below mid teens even if I'm feeling ambitious. Cold is cold a thermometer just puts a number to it. Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Railroad Rail is usually a fairly high manganese steel in the upper end of Medium-lower end of High Carbon. It is a work hardening steel so if you have a "newer" piece it may not be as hard as it can get compared to a worn piece---However it will be harder than any anvil used by the Vikings! If it dents when you hit it with the hammer---well learn better hammer control! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatfudd Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Back in the early 1900's there were several concerns that remanufactured railroad rails into bench anvils. There have been a number of them posted in IFI and on other websites. They can usually be purchased for next to nothing but show very high quality workmanship. Here is an ad from that early time frame and a picture of my little anvil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayshore Forge Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Got my first real anvil last weekend, been lurking on here gaining knowledge for a couple months now, but decided I would finally make a profile. Anyway, after lots of looking at anvils I believe its a 180lb older Trenton possibly made in Germany to look like a Peter Wright. First picture should show a clear RENT with the R appearing to slant to form trentons diamond logo shape with the N being the tallest letter in the diamond. Note that its in my apartment at college for now, it should find its way back home soon. That is an American quarter for reference on size. Dimensions are 11 inches high, 26.5 inches heel to tip of horn, and 4.5 inch wide face. One inch hardy hole. I had been previously using a ASO from harbor freight...made all my Christmas gifts with it though. I think ill be happy with this upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OllieTheRed Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 New to the life. Just scored my first anvil, 158# Hay Budden, this past weekend. Haven't even built the forge or gotten my first hammer yet. Soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumbojak Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Dirt box forge, garage sale hammer, and get to swinging! And a stand of some sort too... you don't want to injure yourself by working stooped over. Nice looking anvil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smfg_mendo Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 On 1/15/2016 at 4:07 PM, OllieTheRed said: New to the life. Just scored my first anvil, 158# Hay Budden, this past weekend. Haven't even built the forge or gotten my first hammer yet. Soon. That sure is in good condition! How is the rebound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 all journeys start with the first step and this anvil gives you a Giant Step forward, good show. Anvils are always the sticky part for most people as witnessed by all the posts here on IFI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my11er Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OllieTheRed Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 On 1/19/2016 at 9:27 PM, smfg_mendo said: That sure is in good condition! How is the rebound? It's fantastic, hammer springs right off the face all around nicely, don't have a ball bearing to gauge it but it's fine and exactly what I expected from one in such good condition. Can't wait to put it to good use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daghrim Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Gonna be picking up a 12" piece of rail in a couple days, I will post it when I get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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