Thread: Mini Anvil

Originally Posted by Utopian

Simple yet brilliant!

The beauty of a small anvil for pinning is that it may be held in the hand or placed on a bench top. For me, the chuck or a 4x6x1 piece of steel can be set on my right thigh to work. I AM PARTIALLY BLIND AND HAVE TRIFOCALS. THE THIGH PLACEMENT BRINGS THE LENGTH OF THE HAMMER FROM MY HIP TO THE PROPER DISTANCE TO BE ACCURATE AND SEE WHAT i AM DOING.
SORRY FOR THE CAPS!
~rICHARD

I packaged all the ones I made in a medium flat rate box.
I encased each anvil in closed cell foam, totally filling the box.

Tom thought it was a loaf of bread..!!

Maybe one of ya has a picture of thiers, as it came. Mine got washed out of my last phone, in the spin cycle of the washing machine.

I've always liked the idea of using a drill chuck, but this little vice from HF was perfect for me, and less than $20 with a coupon. I can clamp it, or permanently attach it to a bench, has a series of holes for gripping different objects, toothed and smooth jaws, swivels and turns for any desired position, and holds a piece of 1/16 rod with the grip of god.

Originally Posted by MisterClean

I was worried about the freshly exposed steel and all the time invested in this project.
An old sock and some Ballistol to the rescue.

Attachment 289205

Keep mine that way, too. Though its inside and always dry, I have accidentally misted it with water during a honing session, once. and boy they form rust quick.

TBH, I rarely use the drill-chuck any longer. Relying instead on a piece of scotch tape to hold my collars on till I get both ends peened enough and then remove the tape.
It seemed that as cranking the pin down in a chuck or vice was actually causing the pin to be work-hardened on the other end and the first peen done would swell much faster than the end which had been squeezed. I also found that annealing the squezed end made for a more even job, yet that was another operation to perform.
I found that I could do a more even job without it. Just me.

Nice pics of your vice Mike.
Tom, Thats good info. I hadn't noticed this yet but maybe I will look for this next time and see if its happening to me too and I just don't know it.

Another question...Folks normally peen the second side in a divot in the steel to keep from flattening. At least this is my understanding. Did anyone drill/grind a divot in the R.R.Track Anvil? Seem like it would be hard to drill.

Never used a divot. As I tap on the edge of the pin, I tilt the razor so the opposite is happening on the anvil at the same time.

Seems to do a more uniform job for me.

I took a 4" drill press vice and made brass jaws for it. Then I use some thin cardboard like from cereal boxes ok, ok, it was from a beer case. Anyway I put a piece on both sides of center and then tightened the vice. Then I used my drill press and a 1/16" drill bit in the center. This holds the pin firm and also square.

The washer goes on and then a bit of tap tap tap and then onward.

I haven't noticed any work hardening.





I am going to put a small divot in the RR track/at least try to. I have a cheapo set of diamond coated pieces from Harbor Freight. I also have a 1/8" carbide ball mill that I might try.

Let me know how that goes Roy.

Tom, i like your idea. I will have to try that. I think most the time im peening i just angle the hammer around the edge of the pin and hold razor steady. I never really like the divot. Depending on the collars your using, you could be hammering on the washer and causing stress on the scales. JMO.

Found it. The loaf of bread with a railroad track anvil inside!

That is to pretty to hit with a hammer!