WTB Anvil Wanted

[682SuperSport]

I'm looking for a moderate sized anvil between 75-150lbs (smaller would also work) to get started with knife making and blacksmithing. I want to be upfront, I can't afford a high dollar anvil like $3/lb but if you have an anvil that you are willing to sell, know someone who does, or have seen one somewhere (at a garage sale, estate sale etc.) please feel free to contact me. I am in the Western New York area but would be willing to travel for the right deal, any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Super Sport last summer I stopped by a local Steel & Sheet Metal shop to buy some material we needed at my friends dairy farm. They had some Railroad Rail cut up in about sixteen inch sections for sale people were buying for anvils and weights for different projects. I'll call down there and see what thier price was and get back to you. Maybe a Steel & Sheet Metal distributer in your area might have some.

Another option would be take a drive and look for railroad crossings and see if you can find a small piece of RR rail that they left there for scrap and snag a small section.
I see small piles of rail sections out here all of the time and use to see some back there in Broome County, New Yorkistan

 

[GOPerfect]

110lb Steel Anvil Central Forge

 

[682SuperSport]

Super Sport last summer I stopped by a local Steel & Sheet Metal shop to buy some material we needed at my friends dairy farm. They had some Railroad Rail cut up in about sixteen inch sections for sale people were buying for anvils and weights for different projects. I'll call down there and see what thier price was and get back to you. Maybe a Steel & Sheet Metal distributer in your area might have some.

Another option would be take a drive and look for railroad crossings and see if you can find a small piece of RR rail that they left there for scrap and snag a small section.
I see small piles of rail sections out here all of the time and use to see some back there in Broome County, New Yorkistan

That would be awesome if they still had some at a decent price, I really appreciate that! I did search craigslist for railroad track and found nothing but I would definitely buy a piece of track to get started on!

 

[682SuperSport]

110lb Steel Anvil Central Forge

I contacted that seller by email about that anvil and got no response unfortunately. The post asks the buyer to call between noon and 9pm but did not leave a phone number to contact them by unfortunately. I emailed the seller several times with my information as well as that their post does have a phone number on it.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I called the Steel place, The RR rail they have cut is 12" long weighs 30 pounds and sells for $20.
They said they can cut it as long as you want it. If it would fit in a pay one price post office shipping box I could pick one up for you.

I do have a very old anvil I got from my 84 year old mother inlaw last summer, it belonged to her grand father. I'm going to go pick me up two pieces of the RR rail for myself. One I'll leave as is.
The other I'll shape in to a regular anvil shape.

If I see any rail I can snag I'll grab some when I'm out & about. I just seen some the other day, but they were long sections they had taken out and replaced. They looked to be 16 feet long or so, to big for my old ass to pick up. If I can find a six footer or so I can get it cut to what ever lenght I want.
I'll keep you posted.

 

[682SuperSport]

I called the Steel place, The RR rail they have cut is 12" long weighs 30 pounds and sells for $20.
They said they can cut it as long as you want it. If it would fit in a pay one price post office shipping box I could pick one up for you.

I do have a very old anvil I got from my 84 year old mother inlaw last summer, it belonged to her grand father. I'm going to go pick me up two pieces of the RR rail for myself. One I'll leave as is.
The other I'll shape in to a regular anvil shape.

If I see any rail I can snag I'll grab some when I'm out & about. I just seen some the other day, but they were long sections they had taken out and replaced. They looked to be 16 feet long ou so, to big for my old ass to pick up. If I can find a six footer or so I can get it cut to what ever lenght I want.
I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for the info Highland, where is this steel place located, it is close enough to drive to in the WNY area? The $20 is certainly affordable and attractive to get started on

 

[HighlandLofts]

Super Sport I use to live in the Binghamton area, but moved out to Washington State. I travel back there to visit family and to go deer hunting.
The rail road rail I am talking about is out here, I just returned back here to Washington a couple of days ago from the Binghamton area.

Where abouts are you in Western New Yorkistan?

I can mail you a piece if you can't find any. If I can snag a piece here shortly I'll give you a piece, just pay the shipping.

 

[Toecutter]

Craigslist is the way to go keep checking. Or Goto a steel yard pick up old pins from a crane hydralic cylinder or track pins from a tracked bulldozer. Old machine die would be good as well.

 

[Deplorable Me]

When I was a kid I used a large sledge hammer head and some steel plumbers strap, tied the head to a telephone pole cut-off stuck in the ground. Maybe a 4"x8" striking area.

 

[nortatoga]

Harbor freight

 

[Uzi]

I need to get one myself for knives and other stuff. Probably just go to HF, can't say I need anything special.

 

[HighlandLofts]

If you go to Harbor Freight don't forget the save 20% coupon you see everywhere plus a small cheap free item. Them small magnetic dishes are useful.

 

[GOYABEAN]

 

[Deplorable Me]

You could probably make an anvil from a chunk of I-beam. There's local structural suppliers that might sell you cutoffs. Upstate Steel, Alp Steel.

 

[GOYABEAN]

other useful things to do with them

 

[682SuperSport]

You could probably make an anvil from a chunk of I-beam. There's local structural suppliers that might sell you cutoffs. Upstate Steel, Alp Steel.

The I-Beam idea is great, would probably work better or at least give a larger surface that railroad track, just wonder about the hardness. I may give them a call.

 

[Robin]

I beam is too soft. The railroad rail will work. Beware these anvils that are inexpensive, some are mild steel and that makes them soft, some are cheap cast iron with a thin plate of steel fused on top, they will frustrate you and you will regret wasting your money. The railroad rail will work just fine while you keep an eye out for something better. Good luck, hope it works out for you!!!
Robin

 

[HighlandLofts]

That's my plans for one piece of railroad rail, The other I'll leave just square cuts on both ends in addition to the old real anvil I have.

 

[Deplorable Me]

The I-Beam idea is great, would probably work better or at least give a larger surface that railroad track, just wonder about the hardness. I may give them a call.

Steel vs Iron. Iron would be harder but you would be able to squeeze out a few knives from Steel before you wear it out.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I'll see what I can snag, if I am successful I'll send all of you a section for free, just pay the shipping.

 

[682SuperSport]

Awesome thank you! I’m gonna look around and see if there’s sections to be had in the WNY area first and ask everyone I know. Something will turn up eventually I’ll just have to be patient.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Back in Broome County I found a lot of places where they placed scrape RR rail. I took a drive before I picked up the grandson from from school looking fpr RR rail. Still long sections, I'll go look tomorrow for something US FRIENDLY.

When I do score, do you want any?

 

[Acer-m14]

Call FUAC or the MTA .. last i knew they needed some $$$ you might get a chunk of rail from MTA .. LOL ..

check with the rail roads .. buffalo to rochester to groveland or in your area .. they been fixing the rails in areas to up the train speeds ..

years ago i used to collect scrap iron .. my grandpa worked on the Erie Rail system .. just asked the train crew if you see them
.. any scrap in the cars i can grab ,, help yourself .. if its tied down or bolted no go .. anything loose you can have .. then we don't have to handle it ..

 

[kev74]

Be careful picking up scrap from the railroads. NJ Transit was having people arrested for taking scrap iron here a few years ago.

 

[Acer-m14]

Be careful picking up scrap from the railroads. NJ Transit was having people arrested for taking scrap iron here a few years ago.

ask and take names .. sign here please .. but back in the 70's-80's .. a hand shake was a contract ..

 

[682SuperSport]

Back in Broome County I found a lot of places where they placed scrape RR rail. I took a drive before I picked up the grandson from from school looking fpr RR rail. Still long sections, I'll go look tomorrow for something US FRIENDLY.

When I do score, do you want any?

As long as it’s worth it to ship otherwise I’ll keep looking local, would probably be expensive to ship because of the weight.

 

[kev74]

ask and take names .. sign here please .. but back in the 70's-80's .. a hand shake was a contract ..

If the maintenance guys are giving it to you, that's one thing. If they catch you loading up your pick up truck....

 

[Toecutter]

There is an blacksmith on YouTube lives in new York works for the mta. He said you will get arrested if caught taking scrap steel from tracks. They don't care about the scrap as much as people getting hit by trains or getting hurt.

 

[Robin]

Buffalo Southern Railroad - Wikipedia
Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad - Wikipedia
Arcade and Attica Railroad - Wikipedia
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad - Wikipedia
Depew, Lancaster and Western Railroad - Wikipedia
Here are just a few within easy driving distance of Erie County. From my experience the guys that work in the yards are very friendly and I would bet they would give you a piece of rail for nothing.
Robin