Welding railroad rail anvil

[KST1]

Hello,

I have an home made anvil made from a short (18") peice of rail road rail. Dad's had it for years, he made it, and it works well for what it is. Well, now it's mine, and not being able to leave well enough alone, I want to modify it by welding a 4"w x 6"l x 1.25" thick peice of steel on top for a larger striking surface.

Question: What rod would be best for this process? Is something special needed to weld railroad rail? Preheat?

I figure I'll need to stick weld it as my mig is only a 175.

Any info would be appreciated. Obviously I want this thing to be tough enough to beat on.

Thanks,
-D

[Pangea]

Don't do it.

[hankj]

You'll need one ****ed big stick machine! There are a couple of RR welders on here, and maybe one will give you some advice, but most of that work is electroslag or thermite welded, as I recall.

Hank

[Mike W]

I would weld your piece of metal to something else. Then you will have two items to beat on.

[coalsmoke]

as a blacksmith, I can tell you this. You would be much better served to weld that piece of plate underneath the anvil for added mass than to try and lamainate it one as a new face.

[RickSidebottom]

as a blacksmith, I can tell you this. You would be much better served to weld that piece of plate underneath the anvil for added mass than to try and lamainate it one as a new face.

Been there, tried that, listen to Coalsmoke-don't do it.

If you get it to stick, you will need to heat the whole thing up to cherry red and quench it quick to keep any hardness.

I tried, and failed and tried again. Save up for a real one.

[KST1]

Point taken guys. I plan on getting a real anvil sometime anyway, just thought I might make this neat old thing a bit better.

I'll keep using it like it is until I find a deal on a REAL anvil.

-Derek

Coalsmoke,

Do you make your own smithing tongs or do you buy them? I'll need some once I get my forge built.

-D

[TOMWELDS]

7018M...several pass's

[coalsmoke]

Point taken guys. I plan on getting a real anvil sometime anyway, just thought I might make this neat old thing a bit better.

I'll keep using it like it is until I find a deal on a REAL anvil.

-Derek

Coalsmoke,

Do you make your own smithing tongs or do you buy them? I'll need some once I get my forge built.

-D

So far I have just been making them, but one day if I ever have money to burn I will buy some of the oddball ones i don't use everyday
making them is good practice though, so i sort of hate to buy what i could make. Tongs are sort of my nemisis (sp?), every smith has something that always gives him/her some trouble, and tongs for me it is. Other things like welded chain, leaves, or what have you i find easier than some others, but tongs get me I think i might go out and make another pair just to show them who's boss

[Tumbleweed]

Derek,
Check out www.sofablacksmiths.org
It is the Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil. I have never been, but in the fall they have a huge blacksmith conference called Quad State 2006. I have friends that go and it is supposed to be the largest tail-gate sales of any of the blacksmithing conferences. The word is..if you can't find it there...you don't need it. TW

Point taken guys. I plan on getting a real anvil sometime anyway, just thought I might make this neat old thing a bit better.

I'll keep using it like it is until I find a deal on a REAL anvil.

-Derek

Coalsmoke,

Do you make your own smithing tongs or do you buy them? I'll need some once I get my forge built.

-D

[coalsmoke]

ABANA 2006 see you smiths in Seattle

[miestro_jerry]

I have a rail type anvils, it's great for many of my blaxksmithing projects. DON"T modify it. I like the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association <http://www.appaltree.net/aba/> we have several Hammer Inns a year and you can talk to members about what they have in the way of anvils.

Myself I have a Czech Republic double horned anvil made in 1996, it works great, I paid $600 USD for it. It's a wonderful Anvil!

You can used and repaired ones for a lot less, it depends on what your going to do with an anvil, to figure out what you need in the way of an anvil.

Jerry

[Albin]

I've welded up plates to rail road rail about three times. Most were 145 rail (i.e. 145 lbs per 3 feet) about 18-20" long. I welded 1" plate to the top to make the striking surface. As far as I know none were used for true blacksmithing work, just general pounding.

The first couple were done with my Lincoln AC-225 with 1/8" or 3/16" rods, probably 6013 or 7018. Mostly just needed an excuse to weld something and these looked interesting.

My own anvil is made out of 2" plate steel, weighs 146 lbs ( vs. 142 estimated prior to cutting and welding). Also not used for blacksmithing use, just general pounding out stuff. Has a real nice loud ring and hammer blows bounce real good, almost too good.

My .02.

Al

[trackwelder]

We use scrap rail in making of gates for right of ways, bumper posts, and barriers. All of it is welded with 7018. I preheat the area if below 50 degrees. We have high carbon rod for repairing the rail but it is to expensive to use on non critical applications.

[KST1]

Wow, I've been away for awhile and figured this post was dead. Thanks for all the information. I've decided to leave well enough alone for now, as I have plenty of other projects, but you never know when I'll see that rail out of the corner of my eye and.....

I'm kinda playing with the idea of getting into some blacksmithing as I love working with metal and have blacksmithing in my blood from a Great Grandfather and Great Uncle, both professional blacksmiths now deceased. It's not something I'm going to jump right into, but might start aquiring tools and learning some basics.

For now the anvil is just for general beating.

I'm going to try to get to a local(ish) ABANA event this year.

Thanks again,

-D