Source for railroad track and horseshoes

P

Paul Weiss

Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
16
Hello,

I am just getting started and am looking for a 2 foot section of railroad track to use as an anvil and some old horseshoes.

My step son and I have made our first horseshoe knife at the kelgin Knife Makers Co-op and are hooked.


Thank you,

Paul
 
paul giving a little more info about the area your in would help people help you find what you are looking for.

For example i got a couple good size peices of track but im not sure if your in my area. Also i dont have horse shoes but i have a bunch of old railroad spikes i picked up when they changed lane of tracks near my house.

Thanks
Vinny:)
 
Thanks for the reply. I am in the Huntsville, AL area, but am willing to travel or pay shipping whatever is needed.


Paul
 
Paul Weiss said:
Hello,

I am just getting started and am looking for a 2 foot section of railroad track to use as an anvil and some old horseshoes.

My step son and I have made our first horseshoe knife at the kelgin Knife Makers Co-op and are hooked.


Thank you,

Paul
Click to expand...

Shipping may kill you on the there free deal, but I have all the old horseshoes you want, figure the postage from 80465 and there yours.

You might check local Farriers first, they do pile up.
 
I picked up two 2-foot sections along the local tracks after they did some repairs. Not sure of the formal legality of that, I know they'll hang you from your toenails if they see you taking a full length! The kids and I take the ATV along the tracks occasionally to see what might have fallen off the train...

J-
 
check this out if you want a RR anvil.
http://www.anvilfire.com/iForge/
look for tools from rr rail.

Mostly you can find RR rail at a junkyard.

Here in OK you cannot sell rr items to the junkyard unless you are from the RR company. The high cost of scrap has increased the activity of thieves.

The Harbor Freight *Russian 110lb anvil is a good anvil for the money, you can read a review on it on anvilfire also.

* not to be confused with harbor freights chinese cast iron anvil shape door stops.
 
I would hit your local craigslist, or the one from the nearest large town. And also ask any local framers etc... you may know in the country. "Free" anvils are out there, and most don't cost 3 bucks a pound. The make your own anvil thing is mostly an economy from the past, with scrap drying up, scrap is often as expensive as new anvils. Though I live in hope of finding a piece of steel cheap for a post anvil.

Also keep in mind that for knives, while a conventional anvil is dandy, a lot of the features just get in the way.
 
Paul, some years ago I came across a small work crew doing minor railroad track repairs. I approached them politely and asked about buying a short length of track. My friend I was with at the time and I left with 2 or 3 short pieces for the grand sum of maybe $20 in cash. You are not likely to get one that's short enough to use for an anvil as is, so you will have to figure out how to cut it shorter. Because the top surface is so thoroughly work hardened, you will play hell trying to cut it, even on an industrial grade horizontal band saw. Railroad track eats blades! With the right speed and pressure and a continuous flow of cutting oil it can be done, though, if you are lucky. A good man with a big cutting torch can do the job much easier, though not quite as neatly. It doesn't have to look pretty for you to hammer on it.
 
I used oxyacet torch to cut railroad rail. Used a lot of gas, got the job done.

BTW Paul, Welcome to Bladeforums, If you fill out your profile info folks will not have to keep asking you where you're from etc, heck you might find a local guy who will invite you over, or just happen to have what it is that you currently need, or be willing to teach you.

Just a thought.

-Page
 
paul i wouldnt make to long of a trip for a peice of track. You could try your local metal scrap yard.. theres other makeshift anvils that might be easier as
well. like a good size hunk of a good hard steel in a bucket of cement. again
ask the guys in here that know a little more about it what type of steel to
use and check a steel supplier or local scrap yard for a good size peice.

Vinny:D
 
Since we are on the subject, I have about a 4' section of rail and would like to cut it to shape. I don't have a torch and was wondering if there were any "easy" ways of cutting it without spending all day on it. Would I be better served taking it to a machine shop and letting them cut it for me?
 
If you wanna drive to the other side of Atlanta I'll give you some track.


Edited to add. The bits I have are ~8 or 10 inches long.
 
It would be a long drive, but I would be glad to give you my first RR track anvil. It's about 30" long and sits on a red oak base.

chop-a.jpg



Mike
 
Check the phone book, make a couple of calls (or Google) and find the local RR maintenance yard.There is one (or more) in or near every city. Go there and introduce yourself to the foreman or supervisor. They will most likely give you anything you need. They usually have a big stack of short end cuts. If all they have is a 4-6" piece, say "Thanks" and take it to a metal shop or a friend with a metal cutting band saw.

As for the horseshoes, new shoes are dirt cheap.Look in the phone book (or Google) and find a farrier, or a farrier and blacksmith supply.They will sell you shoes or shoe stock cheap.
Stacy

Farrier near Huntsville - Local Results
Miller Farrier Service - (256) 776-2261 - 356 Ohatchee Rd, Huntsville, AL - 8.33mi - map
Yahoo! Shortcut
 
What's the story on horseshoes for knifemaking? The only reference I could find that named a steel said A36, which is obviously no good for a knife. Are there other, more acceptable steels in use?

Any info? Thanks.
 
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