Taking top 10mm off railway track to make it flat

[Agroshield]

...I don’t think I ever saw one mounted to anything other than an old wheel.

Another one I have seen is on the end of the back axle of a RWD car, with half of it buried in the ground (so the differential housing is roughly at ground level).

 

[jimbo84]

This is how I did mine but you’re not going to be able to be doing a 12inch piece like that.

My longer railtrack anvil I just left as it was.

 

[Parm]

I took mine to a machine shop where they milled it flat

 

[fizzy]

I have some rail track and want to make it go from curved to flat on the top to use as an anvil. It looks like I need to take roughly 10mm off the top to get to flat. The track is 12 inches long.
What is the best tool or machine to use for this? I want a very clean accurate cut so the top is nice and neat and flat. I am open to all possible options, thanks.

Where are you based?
I don't mind having a bash over Christmas. I have 4 surface grinders and 4 milling machines. 2 of which actually work

 

[ELL]

Where are you based?
I don't mind having a bash over Christmas. I have 4 surface grinders and 4 milling machines. 2 of which actually work

Cheshire.

 

[fizzy]

Cheshire.

If you can't find anyone local you could always post it.

 

[Erie Fred]

If you can't find anyone local you could always post it.

...by train......

 

[brightspark]

rails are manganese and carbon steel

 

[hotponyshoes]

Milling machine is the easiest (if you have a milling machine)

It's not a terrible job to do with a grinder.
I've done a few with a 7" which is a nice size for the job.

Don't worry about getting it surface plate standards of flat.
If you can't get it 'close enough' with hand tools you probably won't have the skills to hammer something flat on it either

 

[hotponyshoes]

Track does work-harden as well. (Maybe that depends on what track it is??)

I wouldn't want to spend hours getting a perfect surface and then find out it takes a few months of working it for the surface to settle, I'd rather grind it, try using it, see what happens. Re-finish it after.

If you can find out exactly what material your piece of track is then I might well suggest differently if you could machine and harden properly

 

[Jasper42]

I had a go of doing one with an angle grinder, useable but not flat, I did promise myself to do a bit more work on it but never got around to it as it does what I need it to. A lot of time and effort as it’s very hard. A mate asked me to do him one as I had more track, I said no.

 

[Gragson]

Ditto on how flat to get it, got this 16" length flattish with zirconia belts on a 4" handheld belt grinder. As flat needed for my skills anyhow. I've used it plenty and has been useful.




See here

Small benchtop metal basher

Something small to bash, bend, heat, straighten metal on, never really going to have a need for a real anvil - I know this has been done to death ;) Cut off a bit of bullhead track to 16" length, which will be under bolted to a lump of wood which I will route out a bit to sit it in but also...

www.mig-welding.co.uk