RR Anvil

I currently have a Railroad Anvil made from a short section of rail.  The history of the anvil started on a friend's jewelry bench.  If my memory is correct a local blacksmith made them but a local farmer may have made it.  I inherited it when my friend passed away and the family was cleaning his house.

The railroad anvil is 12 inches long with both square and tapered ends.  It has a single hole for a strap tiedown to a base.  It weights 15 lbs.  The surface is covered in rust and gives it an antique look.  It is missing a hole for bending metal at 90 degree angles.  

For years, the anvil sat in the greenhouse collecting dust.  I decided to mount it to a post in February 2024.  A railroad tie plate was used to help hold the rail road anvil to a short section of Aspen log.  Log was trimmed with a chainsaw to flatten and level.  The plate and anvil are held down with 1/4 x 3 inch lag bolts.  

Two holes on opposite sides of post were drilled into a cement base using a 1/4" masonry bit.  The hole depth was drilled to a depth of 2".   A short section of 1/4" irrigation tubing was used for anchor hardware.  The strap was attached using 1/4 x 3" construction screws.

Thoughts and Hacks

1. A 15 lb anvil is a little small for blacksmith forging but perfect for occasional forge work.  

2. I use it more as a decoration than actual forage work and metal fabrication.

3. Planned modifications

   1. Hole for bending metal at right angles

   2. Wire brush rust and paint