u/nz_metal_works

I found a free railway track offcut and I’m planning to turn it into a small anvil for jewellery work (silver, small forming, etc.).
The surface is quite rusty and slightly pitted, so I want to clean it up and make it usable rather than aiming for a polished finish.
I’ve got access to an angle grinder with flap discs, but I’m a bit concerned about accidentally making the face uneven if I go at it wrong.
What’s the best approach here?
My current thinking is:
Use a flap disc to remove rust and high spots
Try to avoid “digging in” and creating waves
Focus more on usability than a perfectly flat surface
Main question:
How do I clean and level something like this without over-grinding and ending up with a lumpy surface?
Any tips on technique (or things to avoid) would be appreciated.

I work mostly on jewelry-scale metal forming and full-size English wheels always felt way too large for what I do. So I started experimenting with a compact alternative.
This setup uses:
a 3-way G clamp as the frame
an M10 mounted steel caster ball as the upper contact
a large rolling support wheel below
The idea is to create controlled compound curves and smooth tension-formed surfaces on small pieces of metal using repeated light passes — somewhere between an English wheel, planishing tool, and doming tool.
I have no idea yet whether this will work brilliantly or horribly, but mechanically it feels promising enough to experiment with.
I’ve jokingly named it the “English Balls”.
Curious what experienced metal shapers / jewelers think this setup might actually be capable of.

I made this cat ring.
My wife’s reaction: “You might want to talk to someone.”

Be honest—Does she have a point?