Homemade anvil from railroad track and 4140 steel

Ignoramus29761 · 2006-09-22T20:51:46+00:00

I am not a blacksmith, but would like to have a anvil like object forpounding stuff. Because of the above and lack of space, I would likenot to spend too much on a real anvil.I do, however, have some things such as billets of 4140 steel ofvarious sizes and a piece of LIGHT GAUGE railroad track (20 lbs orso). After a recent discussion in I decidedto take a quick peek here and ask a question.If grind a part of the rail approximately flat, and then weld a pieceof 4140 to the flat top of the rail (to form a flat part), and grindanother 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 fillerrod, 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 couldlook for a real anvil at industrial liquidations or some such, when Ineed one. thanksi

Sep 22, 2006 23 Replies

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Ignoramus20860 19 years ago

That's a VERY smart idea!!!

I did that with some heavy stuff.

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John Husvar 19 years ago

How often do you get new mail carriers on your route? :)

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Ignoramus22416 19 years ago

Those heavy ones, I took to the post office (50 lbs of stuff in one priority mail flat rate box).

I recently sold two "hand taps" for FOUR INCH screw diameter. 4-4 thread, 4" bolt, four threads per inch. Each of these taps weighed 26 lbs. Really something to be seen and held to be appreciated. Definitely not your usual tap from Ace Hardware. I shipped then via priority mail flat rate.

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John Husvar 19 years ago

Yes, I saw those pictures. Those definitely aren't usually in stock at the neighborhood store. I wouldn't place a bet that our local store couldn't order them though. :)

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