The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Mini Anvil Project

Last year I was given 2 pieces of railroad rail and got a third included when I purchased a truck bed made into a trailer. I’d been looking for just one, and all of a sudden I had three.
The really small one seemed just right to make a mini anvil.
I still need to shape the horn. It will be curved and more narrow when I’m done.
Does anyone know why railroad rails come in two different heights? See 2nd picture.

The secret to making a nice anvil is to buy a crappy welder.
Your welding will look terrible. So you’ll then have to learn to be a really good grinder. Believe me, I’ve been grinding on this thing quite a while and still have plenty to do. It’s a good testament to my 4.5” Makita grinder and the Bauer grinding wheels from HF.
If I don’t like the end result, I can always turn it upside down and use it to iron clothes.
VIDEO LINK HERE

Rails come in more than 2 weights (dimensions) IIRC. Narrow gauge railroads typically used a lighter rail. Per Wikipedia there were dozens, rated in pounds per yard. I remember as a kid my dad's shop had a short section of rail that was used as an anvil and we tried picking it up when we visited. I was maybe 4 when I was finally able to lift that one foot chunk by myself.

Cool. Keep showing us the progress.
A while back you were considering making a big sandblasting cabinet. Did you ever do anything with that project?

Sensibility took over and I sold that S10 cab and frame. For those among us who are curious as to what I was thinking of doing - please sit down.
I had purchased an S10 truck for the T5. They delivered it to my shop and then informed me that the wheels weren’t included. Haha!
I yanked out the T5 and pondered a wild idea. Pretty sure I saw the idea on the internet, but I thought it was brilliant.
Here goes. We are going to make a really BIG media blasting unit that can be pulled around like a trailer.
Completely gut the S10 engine bay. Remove the front suspension and crossmember. Remove all body panels in front of the firewall. Pinch the front frame rails together and add a place for a hitch. Strip the S10 cab of seats and anything else you can remove from the interior. Leave the doors and glass as is. Shorten the bed, or at least move the bed back two feet so you could stand on the ground behind the cab. Cut 2 arm holes in the back of the cab below the rear glass. Put a large portable or other air compressor in the bed and you now have a really BIG and portable media blasting setup that can be towed like a trailer.
I never got around to it. I wisely did a much needed home landscaping project instead, and I’m still married.

Jay
Anvil? You want an Anvil?
How big of one do you want?
I can probably fix you up at the Homecoming!

Don

Wow! That’s a nice collection. I see some in my area for sale now and then but for my purposes, I better stick with a smaller unit.
It’s true though, if you have one you find that you use it more than you would have guessed.

This anvil was my wife's Great Grandfather's Anvil, Circa 1905!
And some of his tools.

Don

Don, I've got a good anvil, a 150 pounder, if I remember correctly, and a big hickory stump to mount it on. I'm looking for accessories- - - -tongs and other hand tools, and especially Hardy hole inserts. I believe the Hardy hole in mine is 1 1/4". If you run across anything you think I could use at some of the auctions you attend, I'd be interested in hearing about it. I've also got the makings for a small forge if I ever get around to assembling it.
Jerry

Jerry
Hardy tools are hard to come by and most of them were made by the smiths.
Tongs and other accessories were also made by the smiths. Many disappeared for steel during WW-2.
Swage blocks are also hard to find. Cone anvils are even harder to find.
All of them mentioned above, fetch a big price now a days.
With a 1-1/4 inch hardy hole, your anvil is probably around the 200 pound range.
When I get back down your way, I sure would like to look at it!
Maybe even rub on it just a little?

Don

I might be disremembering things a little- - - -the Hardy hole might be 1 1/8" instead. As if I didn't need another project, I'm planning to set up a small forge using a couple of 18 wheeler brake drums- - - -one as a base with a piece of 4" steel pipe bolted to it, and the other one inverted and lined with fire brick and refractory cement and a center air jet made of a piece of 3/4" steel pipe and a cap with several angle-drilled holes in it. I'll power the air jet with an electric leaf blower with a speed control on the motor. I picked up a couple of hundred pounds of coal to feed the forge on a trip to far eastern Kentucky a while back. The objective is to make a few hand-forged knives and maybe a flintlock rifle part on occasion.
Jerry

This is how we use anvils in British Columbia...

Here's what they do with anvils at the BMW Motorcycle Falling Leaf Rally in Potosi, MO.

Falling Leaf Anvil Blow

Oh - My - Goodness! That was a surprise indeed! I was wondering where the crowd was. Now I know, they were all taking cover!

I am truly dumb founded

I was expecting to see a crushed vehicle in the background in Andy's video.
What I want to know is what they used between the anvils.
Lugnutz's anvil is very cute. I may have to make a mini-min-anvil out of the little bittty rail section I have. It's about 6" long and 4" high. More of a bookshelf item than a real usable anvil.

This is an update. If you look back at my very first post you will see I was partway done making an anvil from a Short piece of railroad track.
Another hour of work today and I was able to shape the horn. I’m pretty satisfied with the shape and I believe it will come in very handy. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Your little project turned out really swell Lugs!

Nice work Lugnutz!

That took a lot of grinding.

I especially like the backdrop on the second picture. That is a nice lift!

What about that 68 C10 short bed fleet on the left?

You did good Jay! Bring it up to the Homecoming and show it off!
I plan on bringing one. Maybe about a 100 pounder?
It will help the F-250 ride a little smother.
Those Aussies like a smooth ride!\

Don

"What about that 68 C10 short bed fleet on the left?"

I missed that! It was kind of in the shadows. Nice ride!