Railway Line Anvil

Step 4 Stumping

To work properly, the anvil needs to be mounted on something heavy and resilient. Other criteria might include availability and theoretical portability as was the case for me. I used a section of a Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) log into which I cut a step. To do this I mostly used a chainsaw, and fine tuned the fit to the anvil with a hatchet.

WARNING: Chainsaws are really really dangerous and like to bite. Don't chop any limbs off or anything please.

Other combinations of concrete, steel and timber would also work well as an anvil stand. A good mounting will increase the effectiveness of the anvil and reduce noise.

I used some small pieces of steel plate and coach screws to attach the rail to the upright section of the stump. I also hammered steel spikes through the holes in the fish plate and bent them over.

Behind the new anvil on the top of the stump, I cut a notch and hammered in a small piece of light gauge rail. This provides more useful edges and surfaces on which to hit things.

I have not used this anvil extensively yet and I'm sure it will be modified later on. It does however seem to be pretty useful, and is good value for the effort required to make it.

Comments

[sstought]

Concrete doesn't work as an anvil stand, unless its only for very light work or for a very short time. Its strong and heavy, but repeated pounding will slowly crack it inside. I wouldn't want an anvil to suddenly fall on me from the concrete giving out. Stumps or steel stands are your best bet.