Thread: railroad track anvil

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Don't forget some kind of breathing protection as well. A dust mask as a minimum, but a respirator would be better.

And your piece of track was in a curve. The side closest to the center of the curve wears out quicker.

Have you checked craigslist for an anvil? A friend of mine got one for free on that site by just hauling it off for them. Could be worth a look.

I purchased a respirator recently which has been a blessing... I never realized how much all that steel was stuffing me up... When I blew my nose and it was black I knew it was time hahaha...

That's a great point, man I really wish my track wasn't the curve, so I think I'm just going to grind on it until I get a flat surface all the way across...

Yeah I was on Craigslist, eBay, estate sales social media all to no availZss I tried for about a month before I gave up..:

Originally Posted by outback

It may be taller, my pinning anvil is shorter than those.
Attachment 226267
Here's a pic of mine to the right of the one I had cut.

Wow, I wish I found the taller one you have... I don't know why I just like it more... Well you get what u get... I'm going to go play in the shop for w while gents!!! Thank you all!!!

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

I purchased a respirator recently which has been a blessing... I never realized how much all that steel was stuffing me up... When I blew my nose and it was black I knew it was time hahaha...

That's a great point, man I really wish my track wasn't the curve, so I think I'm just going to grind on it until I get a flat surface all the way across...

Yeah I was on Craigslist, eBay, estate sales social media all to no availZss I tried for about a month before I gave up..:

Got mine by walking the RR tracks till I found a piece small enough to carry.

That one was over 20' long

What?! There is just random tracks laying around? I'm about to start walking the tracks... Maybe I'll walk around with a stick wth a hankey tied to it so it's less suspicious hahaha...

Funny thing is I googled bum walking with hankey tied to stick and first picture was at a railroad track!

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

What?! There is just random tracks laying around? I'm about to start walking the tracks... Maybe I'll walk around with a stick wth a hankey tied to it so it's less suspicious hahaha...

Funny thing is I googled bum walking with hankey tied to stick and first picture was at a railroad track!

Repairs have to be made every now and then. [emoji57]

Originally Posted by outback

Repairs have to be made every now and then. [emoji57]

I just didn't think they would leave the work behind

I saw one at an Antique store about a week ago, going by that way tomorrow, I’ll let you know if it is still there and snap some photos.

In OC, California, dont know what the shipping would be.

I fortunately managed to pick up a small section of track sometime in December.

Have tried to polish it up like Outback's but haven't had too much luck as the top is pitted but I'm happy with the end result.

Railroad tracks come in different gauge size. Outback's tall one must be what we call "full gauge". If there are any railroaders on the forum they will be able to tell you for sure and correct me if I'm wrong. Yes your chunk of track is wore out, that's why you got it.

Want to have some fun and pull a practical joke on a carpenter? Walk the track line sometime and find a used railroad spike. Clamp it in a vise and hack saw the thing so you have it about 2'' long on the head end. Take it to the drill press and drill a 1/8'' diameter hole in the sawed end about 1/2" deep. Then you solder a short finish nail in the hole. Now for the fun, go pound your railroad spike/finish nail into a trim board inside a house he is working on. It looks just like somebody drove a railroad spike in the wood without splitting it. No harm done with this joke because all you have to do is pull it out and use a real finish nail in the hole. Believe me it drives carpenters crazy.........something us machinists like to do.

Yes, track is different sizes...it's rated in "pounds". Our main line is 128 pound welded rail & it's about 7 3/8" from top to bottom. I actually think there is even larger rail. It's cool to look at the dates on some rail too, we run on a old line in Paris, TX that has some rail that is over 100 years old!

I too use rail for different "anvil" projects, but I don't worry with an horn...I don't shoe horses.