itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 A while back I posted that I was looking for an anvil. I decided to take the offered advice and find a piece of rail to pound on until the right anvil came along. Turns out salvage rail can be had in virtually any quanity for $.25 pound in my neighborhood, (and coal is $40 a ton...but no anvils!) so I bought a 3 two foot sections. Unfortunatly I have few proper tools for metalworking, so I had to grind the crown and shape/cut it with a belt sander and angle grinder. I am planning to use the other two pieces vertically as a base for the rail. Any suggestions for improvements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maillemaker Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Hardy and pritchel holes, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 I did consider adding a hardy hole, but the rail is only 2 3/4" wide, and making one less than an inch would just leave me with hardy tools too small for my future real anvil. It is pretty hard steel, and I doubt I could cut a square anyway. Addin a pritchel would not be too dificult. I didn't know if it would be useful, and I am not sure where to put it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maillemaker Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I believe Peddinghaus anvils have the pritchel just outside the flat horn. If you drill it out, drill slow and use plenty of oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 1/2" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windancer Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 You did a terrific job with your interim anvil! Hard to imagine doing that with just the tools you used. Now do something fun with it :) Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Tell me this, am I "wasting" tool steel for the base? I have lots of 1/4" wall 4 x 4 and 4 x 8 square mild tube that I could use instead. Will weight in the base signifigantly effect performance? I was planning on using two vertical cuts of the rail, with the top rail exposed for another hammering surface. The aso weighs ~70#, and the cuts would be about the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 I have seen the smaller striking surface on larger anvils, called an "upsetting block". Just to clarify the location of the base rail's exposed surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Itsme, The rail anvils are notoriously poor performers in the horizontal orientation, but you can make them work better by adding as much mass as possible. While using the tubing to make a base will work, using other pieces of track will add significantly more weight and make the anvil perform just that much better. Cutting and shaping track into other tools, basically using it as a raw material, is very labor intensive and you'd be better off buying new stock that's closer to the size and shape of what you're trying to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 I did explore the purchase of a block of tool steel, but only buying 18" really ended any intrest my local supplier had in selling to me. Luckly, the time spent grinding can be written off as learning. I have been eyeing some "new stock" at the Nimba web site. It comes much closer to the size and shape of the item I desire :) I even have a trip planned to WA in June! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" Weygers, has a chapter on making rail anvils including doing a heat treat on them. You should be able to ILL a copy at your local public library Have you thought of welding on a piece of structural steel sq tubing to an end to use as a hardy hole? If it "wears out" well you can always do it again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhblacksmith Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Hardy and pritchel holes are handy but in a small anvil such as your they take up good forging area and may lighten and weaken the anvil because you will probably have to cut the web. An easy way out is to make a saddle with one or more drilled holes and a couple flanges to hold it in place on the anvil. That will work fine for backing up punches and short drifts. A hold down could be mounted on whatever base you make for the anvil and for a hardy holder, think about a securely mounted leg vise. A big advantage to a vise is that you don't have to be fussy about making sure your hardy tools are the same size or if they fit the hardy hole tightly-just tighten the vise. Even with two anvils, I often use the vice for holding certain hardies. For hot work I prefer the vise mounted with the top about waist high. Nice job on the railroad track anvil. It will get you started fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 I ordered "The Complete Blacksmith" (and read all the free pages on Amazon, Naturally they excluded the chapter on tempering rail). Looks like a great resource. I preheated the pieces and welded the track anvil to a couple of 2' lengths of vertical rail (thanks for the confirmation VaughnT), and except that it is a bit narrow, it works pretty well. If I can find a solid piece of 1" ID square tube, I could add that on to the base, as Thomas suggested. I have been looking for a leg vice, along with everything else, but nothing yet. I saw one listed in Jackson,WY that looked nice, but I haven't found a way to get down there and take a look yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.