Railway track anvil weight how to#
Railway track anvil weight free#

Remember, arguably, the most important aspect of an anvil is that it has strong steel. Welding an anvil is not the only way to create a makeshift anvil, although it is the most effective. Just go to a scrap yard and find a piece that is about the right size- usually, steel from about 50 to 200 pounds will work, but it depends on your preferences and needs. Virtually any heavy piece of scrap metal steel will work, or even a heavy steel plate. You can also use scrap metal steel that is not from a railroad track.

When it is cooled, it will be hard and ideal for metalworking! Remove it from the fire and quench it in a barrel of water, replenishing the water frequently to ensure the anvil cools as quickly as possible. Make a fire and drop the track in it for 30 minutes. Drill a hardie hole and fasten a bolt through it, welding the nut to it on the underside. You should drill your pritchel hole on the face of the back edge of the track, to mimic a standard anvil. Typical anvils have two holes- a pritchel hole and a hardie hole. This process will remove stress from the molecules of steel, preventing metal from springing back during metalworking, but ensuring it still has some spring, so the shape of the anvil is not affected.

Heat your shaped track until it is red hot, then bury it in ashes.

A good anvil shape will have an upturned horn in the front (so it lasts longer before it is turned down from being beat) and a flat back. Any type angle grinder works, such as this 4 ½ inch Bosch Angle Grinder from Amazon (affiliate link).

Shape your track into an anvil shape using an angle grinder.

Pieces of the track will often be found near a railroad, or you can obtain them from a scrapyard. To make an anvil out of a railroad track, follow these steps. & amp amp amp amp amp amp amp lt span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block width: 0px overflow: hidden line-height: 0 ” class=”mce_SELRES_start”& amp amp amp amp amp amp amp gt & amp amp amp amp amp amp amp lt /span& amp amp amp amp amp amp amp gt

Railway track anvil weight how to#

This youtube video shows how to make an anvil out of a railroad track: Moreover, their shape offers a flat surface with rounded edges, another vital dimension of anvils. Because these tracks are made of steel, they are strong enough for metalworkers’ use. One scrap metal that can be easily made into an anvil is a steel railroad scrap.Īn anvil can be made out of pieces of railroad track. These features make it a good alternative to expensive steel anvils.

Railway track anvil weight free#

Scrap metal is generally cheap or free and is relatively easy to obtain. Furthermore, heavy steel tools like sledgehammers can be used for metalworking too. If you have a railroad or scrap metal yard nearby, you can likely find excess steel to use for metalworking. Luckily, you can make your own anvil using materials that are easily accessible to you. They are made to withstand heavy blows from hammers without moving, breaking, or drastically changing shape during metalworking.īlacksmith supply companies sell anvils, but they can be very expensive. Serious anvils are made of forged steel that will not change shape when it is struck during metalworking. The heavier the anvil, the more sturdy it generally stays, so steel’s weight and density make it ideal for an anvil. The shape of the anvil is important, as any marks on the top will be transferred to the shape of the metal during hammering.Ĭheaper anvils are made out of cast iron blocks or rock material, but these materials are less durable than steel, which is the most common and reliable material for anvils. These blocks usually have flattened tops and rounded edges to allow steel to be shaped. What Is an Anvil?Īnvils are large blocks of steel used for metalworking, where the metal piece you are working on is struck with a hammer against the steel. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. * This article may contain affiliate links.