Can I use my cast iron anvil for blacksmthing?

[John Hasler]

I use large rail road rails, they are easy to form and cheap to find....Tim

Where do you find them (other than on a railroad)?

 

[astjp2]

I know that there are many rail yards that sell it, I found a 4' chunk one time along the road that fell off a "truck", it took 3 men and a small boy to lift it. I think It was about 130# per foot, the 90# is a little shorter. TIm

 

[ome]

I use large rail road rails, they are easy to form and cheap to find....Tim

Railroad rails are hard but they are narrow on top, i have only seen one size , wide on bottob and narrow on top
jon

 

[John Hasler]

Railroad rails are hard but they are narrow on top, i have only seen one size , wide on bottob and narrow on top
jon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile#North_America

 

[sniggler]

I think it should work just fine to getting started with the harbor freight anvil but wear your glasses in case of chips and when black smithing anyway.

Finding a good old anvil may be difficult but if you like blacksmithing it is a must.

You should have found plenty of online info on mounting height but generally the top of the anvil should be even with your knuckles with your arm hanging at your side mounting on a stump works best. A four pound hammer is about right for messing around with but you need bigger and smaller too good gloves tongs ect...

Do you have a propane forge set up already? You can make a small coal forge pretty easily from and old truck brake drum and a cheap blow dryer for the blower soft coal is the thing for fuel but i have used barbecue charcoal as well.

Good luck

Bob

 

[GK1918]

Where do you find them (other than on a railroad)?

No problem, when the rail lines came through our property around 1800 or so my grand father simply took it--they left it there over nite. It is in
this shop rite now. about 200 lb class....(with attachments too)//////////////////



samuel

 

[John Hasler]

No problem, when the rail lines came through our property around 1800 or so my grand father simply took it--they left it there over nite. It is in
this shop rite now. about 200 lb class....(with attachments too)//////////////////



samuel

I assume you mean 1900 (or else you are a *lot* older than I am, and railroads have been around in Massachusetts longer than I was led to believe).

 

[ome]

No problem, when the rail lines came through our property around 1800 or so my grand father simply took it--they left it there over nite. It is in
this shop rite now. about 200 lb class....(with attachments too)//////////////////



samuel

Would you sell a foot ? About 65lb
jon