I am not a blacksmith, but would like to have a anvil like object for pounding stuff. Because of the above and lack of space, I would like not to spend too much on a real anvil.
I do, however, have some things such as billets of 4140 steel of various sizes and a piece of LIGHT GAUGE railroad track (20 lbs or so). After a recent discussion in rec.crafts.metalworking, I decided to take a quick peek here and ask a question.
If grind a part of the rail approximately flat, and then weld a piece of 4140 to the flat top of the rail (to form a flat part), and grind another billet to some horn like shape, and weld it to the anvil also, how usable would this be for small scale aplications?
Grinding will be done with a 3 HP grinder.
Welding would be done using TIG method.
I have a decent quantity of various oil hardening tool steel filler rod, which I could use if so advised. I also have a "hardfacing rod" in very small quantity.
Now, if this is a "waste of time", I would rather not do it and could look for a real anvil at industrial liquidations or some such, when I need one.
thanks
i