NHSmith

Excellent thanks for all of the responses. On the anvil I have a 112 lb something or other with a good face on it already, I was just curious about the track anvils. I will definitely keep it around and see what I can use it for.

They where using it to sure up the joists where the new roof top units where going. I assumed it would be fine to forge but even with not much blacksmithing experience 16 years in construction has taught me never to just assume. A complete side subject but one I will ask without opening another thread, are the railway anvils worth making? I am aware of the "everything is owned by the railroad companies", but this definitely isn't. We just starting retrofitting condos into an old lumber mill and there was some track in the store yard for moving the logs around. The developer didn't mind me taking a couple 2ft chunks(where were deceivingly heavy for 2 ft long chunks) I just wasn't sure if they are really worth the effort of cleaning up to use.

This is my first post on the forums, but I have been lurking for a while reading articles and absorbing information. I am an electrician and since starting to fool around with blacksmithing after taking a few courses at new England school of blacksmithing I have been waiting for scrap to fall my way at work. So last Friday we were cleaning off the last job and the general contractor said I could have at the metal that the welders left because they said they weren't coming back for it. It was about 100 ft of 5/8" steel rod. I would assume if they are welding it, and it rusted that it would be safe for the forge, but being a little new at this I figured couldn't hurt to just ask. And this question is also a good chance for me to finally join the discussion of the forums instead of just lurking and reading. I have read the forums on what not to forge and such, but I suppose it is just me being cautious as this would be the first thing I stick in the forge that I didn't buy from the supply yard. Thanks in advance for any and all advice.