Railroad Rail Anvils

Gong

Gong

Joined
Jul 2, 2003
Messages
674
I'm looking to start maknig an anvil this weekend. I was thinking I'd try making it out of railroad rail. I'm just not sure where to get a chunk of railroad rail, and how much it will cost me, if anything. So, if any of you have anvils made from railroad, how did you acquire yours?

Also, I live on Long Island, and the only railroad I know of here is the Long Island Rail Road, if that makes any difference to anyone.

Thanks for helping!
 
Well, I tried to find a small enough piece to take home too......all I could find is pieces like 10 feet long.........try getting one of those back to the shop, plus you could get arrested.

Do you have a harbpr freight near you? They have anvils pretty cheap and good enough for what you need.
 
I wasn't sure what Harbor Freight was, but I looked it up, and it seems the only locations they have in New York are upstate, not close to me at all.

Where did you go to look for the rails that you found? Like, was it at a warehouse or storage yard, or alongside the tracks? Maybe I'll have better luck size wise, i know some people must have found small enough pieces since it's been done.
 
You could call the metal scrap yards. If they have it, they will cut it for a fee. Or you could ask a Railroad Museum that operates on there own line, they might have small cut pieces for you as well.
 
All scrap metal yards will have some at one time or another,That is the safest way to get ahold of some without getting into trouble.Otherwise try and find someone that works on the railroad and see if they can get you a small piece.

Go to a local scrap yard and see if they will let you scrounge through the piles of junk steel,you can find all kinds of things that will work as a starter anvil,maybe even a old anvil itself.or possiably a RXR track already made into a anvil.

Good luck on the search,it is as much fun as making things.
Bruce
 
You need to stumble on a Track department for whatever railroad and talk to them. Most rail today is seamless. Thats why you normally see such long sections laying along the tracks. But occasionally the track department will cut out a smaller section that has been flattened by a defective wheel, usually only a couple of feet long. Make friends with the forman on the job. He's only going to scrap the little piece anyway.
Pat
 
I got mine at the "CSX" maintenance yard. FREE. Just told me to go dumpster diving and take what ever I wanted....

/ al
 
Find out where the railroad maintenance yard is.Go there (or call) "early" in the morning ,7-8AM,and ask for the supervisor.Tell him what you want and what it is for.He will most likely give you a piece the size you want.BTW,rail maintenance yards are FULL of neat metal and stuff that they will give you if you are friendly.
 
I have got large 3 inch square x 3 feet long x 3 welded sid by side tilter door counter weights from the local tip./ recycling yard, not a scrap metal yard just nest to the household waste they recycle all kinds of metal and you name it. not smelly seperated. I think I paid $2. It was no where near you but you may have something similar. I also used to buy pushbikes $5 each. Old but that is the kind of place we have at out tips to encourgae recycling.

It worked well as a anvil for belting damascus on in the early days.
 
I work at the "rail yard" for a summer job, it was the place where the rails are welded together into 1/4 mile long sections. They have lots of cut off ends just the right size for a anvil and could be had for free for a little talking to the "boss". If you have such a place near you it is worth hunting out as they will have all grades if rail, and size. They will also have dull saw blades which can be used for making knives. My father had one made for him from said source.
Second stop would be the the switch repair shop or yard as they also will have some short pieces of rail.
I live in a big railroad town so the stuff is easyto find. I would think the New York aera would have lots of train tracks which need maintaining. Railway clubs may be a good way find people who would get you headed in the right direction.
Cheers Ron.
 
Sweany said:
this is bettern RR track 2" plate. 2" plate you could find at most scrap yards, machine shops or weld shops. Plus you won't do time if you get caught on the RR right of way :eek:

Buttering the working surface with hard facing rod would be a plus.


http://www.forgemagic.com/bsgview.php?photo=261&cat=&by=
Click to expand...

Hey that's one nice anvil, Mike! I'll bet with all that mass you can really move some metal around on it. :thumbup:
 
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