Thread: Railroad spikes

Originally Posted by haosiliu235

Just wondering where abouts in Melbourne could I buy some railroad spikes. I have searched the net but no luck, and have no idea where to look for them.
Also what are your thoughts on railroad spikes in terms of hardness. I plan to forge for the first time and small marking knifes and chisels out of them.

The problem with using RR spikes where you want a quality edge such as for chisels and knives is they're a bit of a raffle in terms of quality and hardness and since one never knows what they are one might do a lot of work for nothing.
Here's what Anvilfire.com says about using using RR spikes.

This quote sums up my general attitude to them.

RR-spike knives make better letter openers and pry-bars than knives, but only in contrast to higher carbon steel and more sophisticated alloys. They can be adequate, but never great; but they were never meant to be (and should never be represented to be) high quality and high performance knives. Their just sort of a neat recycling of a common object with its own romantic conotations. The whole idea is: "Cool; a knife made out of a railroad spike!

I agree with graziano, files are a good way to start with for making very good quality knives and chisels. As they are already hardened they just need to be tempered back and you don't need a forge, a normal domestic oven or a BBQ is generally hot enough to do it.

Hi Harry,

I got your PM, I'll post a couple of railway spikes next week for you to play with, they are a good way to get started forging, cheap cheap..

As BobL and Graziano have already said old files are probably a better starting point for chisels and marking knives, but I'm sure you'll have fun belting away at some red hot steel anyway.

Have you checked out Thumbsuckers latest chisel bulk buy? that might be an even easier way to make a few chisels.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by haosiliu235

Just wondering where abouts in Melbourne could I buy some railroad spikes. I have searched the net but no luck, and have no idea where to look for them.
Also what are your thoughts on railroad spikes in terms of hardness. I plan to forge for the first time and small marking knifes and chisels out of them.

Cheers

Harry

Back in the dim n distant past Sims Metal handled all of the scrap-metal from the rail. Might be worth a phone-call...........that's if there still is a Sims Metal....I've been out off touch with Melbourne for a while now.

Yea just saw it yesterday, and realized i was too late (was away for a while)

I saw alot of the off cut rails everywhere along the train tracks when took train to uni. They just left them long the train tracks about 5m from a street, and it is unfenced. However they are fairly long, what tools would I need to cut them down to manageable size? any hand tools like hacksaw?

The only hand tool I can think of is, a petrol powered cut off saw, but that would be a bit big to get on the train.

Dave

I mean it wasn't even on the tracks...was closer to the road than the track...they just kinda dumped there was probably like 3-4m from the road on the grass. i think the smallest one would be 2-2.5m long and not sure it will fit in my mate's car properly.

Originally Posted by haosiliu235

I saw alot of the off cut rails everywhere along the train tracks when took train to uni. They just left them long the train tracks about 5m from a street, and it is unfenced. However they are fairly long, what tools would I need to cut them down to manageable size? any hand tools like hacksaw?

A hacksaw ? You're keen , strength to your arm on that one

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

A hacksaw ? You're keen , strength to your arm on that one

would he have enough time left in his life?....

take an apprentice with you...and pick him up a week or so later

Originally Posted by haosiliu235

I probably need 10-15ish spikes.
They are updating the tracks around caufield station, but I dont see people replacing them, they are just replaced the next day. Anyway did you find the spikes along the track or asked one of the workers?
I am in search of a easy to make small forge, liking this one

However everything is galvanized, and i am also trying to find a block of steel for the anvil.
I am trying to keep the cost low atm because it is just a side hobby.

Galvanized is only a problem where the metal gets hot. That means the pipe in contact with the fire to add air to the fire. The tub doesn't get hot enough to burn off the galvanization with a bit of insulation. The insulation could be as simple as dirt. The simplest forges are no more than holes dug in the ground with some pipe to add air.
You can remove the galvanization with acid. Many people have reported success with vinegar.
If you haven't looked around iforgeiron.com yet, I suggest you spend some time searching there.

ron