Christopher Friis Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Hi there. I am looking to complete upgrades to my rail track currently being used for an anvil. I have an 18" hunk of track I got from a rail yard (I work as a conductor) I made a horn on one end and want to weld a good piece of steel to the rest of it for a better striking surface and so I can add a hardy hole as well as a pritchel hole. I am thinking about 3" thick but havent decided on that yet. I say 3" because I intend on having the hardy and pritchel holes off the back of the track floating over nothing. Kind of like this---______>Crude drawing I know but think of that as an anvil if you would please. lolAnyway, does anyone have any recommendations as for what steel to weld on? Type and thickness. PS Im always looking for a local anvil of decent quality and will continue looking, but this is a very cost efficient method for me at this time. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 As thick as you can get. Sections of forklift tine are good. Personally I would have stood the rail on end and used it that way. I rarely use the horns on my anvils, and due to varied hardy shanks a lot of times I just hold them in my vise when I need to use one. Rail is around a 1080 steel, so it can get very hard if heat treated. You will be losing out if you put anything on top that won't get as hard. The top part of the rail is fine for forging, what don't you like about it? The London pattern anvil is a relatively new design in the history of anvils. Also putting your location in your profile will help us help you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Friis Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Im going to be going to the metal supermarket and buying exactly what I want but the piece of steel I will be getting will be a bit wider on each side (1 inch or so on each side) and longer over the back so I can add a hardy and pritchel hole.The rail track itself works just fine. I just think It could be better. Its not a flat surface for starters. There is no step down either. Would be nice to have one. I went to a machine shop in my area and they want 100 bucks to flatten the surface. Figure I could get allot more for my money than that by making it bigger and adding functionality. Yeah a london pattern anvil is more or less what im trying to create. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 forbidden2x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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