![]() ![]() This worked great, although it was a little tedious I went through probably 10 discs in each grit I used.Ī note on orbital sander discs:I started this step using pretty typical aluminum oxide sandpaper discs on my orbital sander (which I've been quite happy with for all of my wood projects), but they wore out almost immediately on metal. When all you see are the new marks from the current grit, it's time to move up to the next one.įor the hard-to-reach cutout under the horn, I used my $30 variable speed Black & Decker rotary tool with tiny sanding discs in similar grits. Just like when sanding wood projects, the goal is to remove all the marks from the previous grit. I then switched to an orbital sander, sanding all the shiny surfaces with the following grits: 100, 150, 220. This removed all of the marks left by the grinding discs. To begin the process of finishing the shiny surfaces, I first used an abrasive Scotch-Brite disc in a power drill. So the first step is to ask around, search online as well as at your local scrap dealer, and legally acquire a bit of scrap rail. However, I prefer to spend a little more time, money, and effort to make my own things, as I thoroughly enjoy the making process. so you could just simply buy one of those, or even just buy a cast iron hobby anvil or a steel bench block. There are usually finished railroad track anvils available too. Obviously, you can't go pulling up railroad track unless you want want to get locked away for a long, long time.Īt any given time, eBay has several listings for bits of scrap rail, both newish and vintage. It is not illegal to have a piece of railroad track. He bought a pile of old rail at a scrap yard, and sells small pieces like this to his students so they can get started pounding metal at home. I got a 9-inch long piece from a blacksmith that teaches classes where I live. The piece I used is small-gauge rail that is only 3.75 inches tall. If you don't know how to look for them, just ask.To make an anvil like this you will need a small section of rail track. Yesteryear Forge is having a big event outside Richmond, VA June 19th. I could have doubled my money in the first half hour.īlacksmiths guilds have events with tailgating, I have seldom gone to one where there was not somebody with an anvil to sell. Three people tried to buy it off my shoulder before I got to the front gate, headed to the parking lot. I bought a post vise off the truck before the guy unloaded it. If you want it and the price is right, put your money down quick. I have seen tandem axle trailers loaded with anvils, post vises, forges, etc. Big auction Saturday morning, plus dealers under the trees with every sort of rusty junk, er, ah, I mean priceless an-teeks for sale. There is an annual event in central NC at Denton Farm Park 4th of July weekend. About half the time I demo at a museum, somebody comes up and wants to sell me their anvil at home "out back, jest settin' in the shed". ![]() Heck, wear a cardboard sign around your neck if you have too. Put a cardboard sign and phone # in your truck window, everyone in the parking lot will read it. Mix, mingle, tell everyone you meet that you are looking. Year later at another auction, I helped him load some vises and the anvil he bought, and he gave the plate welding table that was under the vises. He was wearing a gold anvil necklace and had signs on the front and back of his truck that said "I buy anvils". I ran into the dealer I bought my first real anvil from at an auction, while bidding on a forge. Put a want ad on Craigslist, look at auctions in your area. Western NC, TN, KY, VA, and Ohio are the Promised Land of anvil hunters. Try typing anvil, post vise, or blacksmith, and you will find dozens of ads for anvils closer to you, 6 from one guy in Asheville. Craigslist search tool will let you search 20-250 miles of any zip code, or nationwide. posted a link in another thread that I find useful. Don't expect bargains or gifts from dealers. Irontanner, the guy in Pageland, SC is a dealer/collector, and has posted that same ad every week or so for the past year. ![]()
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