I used BBQ briquettes to anneal it, and filed the veins in. This type of steel is great for heat treating. The installation of NARSTCO steel ties greatly improved, Scotland County, N.C., located in the south-central part, (OR, WA, NV, UT, ID, MT, CO, WY, NE, ND, SD, MN, WI, AK, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia), (CA, AZ, NM, OK, AR, MO, IL, IA, KS, Mexico), (CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WV, IN, KY, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador), 5 Penn Plaza 15th Floor Low Alloy Rail Steel.72 to .82% Carbon,.80 to 1.10% Manganese,.25 to .40& Chromium, . I've got a bunch of the spring clips as well. Go to the "pages" section and search for junk yard. Call or email us today to receive more information from our experienced and knowledgeable staff. Hot and hard work is my friend so it'll just be another day to me. $28.00, $35.00 $45.00, $60.00 Use a cutting torch (ideal) or a cutting wheel (much slower) to cut a length. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that RR spikes will make a decent knife, but they are hardenable. I have seen some people welding together three pieces of rail tracks. Thank you all for your replies. The ideal weight ratio of the anvil to hammer would be somewhere between 30-50:1. If you are going to use heat to cut off a piece, make sure you leave a lot of excess stock so you can remove the heat affected zone later. Bending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being ben But, my buddy made one for his daughter, and it looks real nice. Seems like a logical solution to the problem. Friend is insisting on it and heck it's going to be an adventure from start to finish so I'm all in regardless if it fails or not. I treated it like it was 1090 or W1 and it came out at Rc66/67 out of a brine quench. The accepted standard for knife steel is at least 60 to 65 points carbon minimum. There is a bunch of steel cable I need to harvest as well. Instead, get yourself the heavy duty. Hardening metal can be a fickle process, especially while youre getting the hang of it. When I picked the railroad track a few years ago, I first tested its hardness. Clear editor. Basically, its less likely that there would be surface cracks that would propagate over time. It looks to be made from about 110# rail. In that case, you have two choices, to dress it all over again or throw it away. So what kind of steel are railroad tracks made of? The track used in curves has the highest carbon content. I shoulda been more concise about what I was trying to say. While for some large projects that may be necessary, it is simply not for most beginner blacksmithing work. I can still do this by welding some good knife steel onto the top of the spike and have a good camp knife result. Everything from historic to more modern weapons, we worked hard to bring the most unique items that we carry. Senior Vice President, NARSTCO and HSQ Technology, Director, Process Improvement and Capital Projects, Click here to learn more about NARSCTO's commitment to green initiatives, Ray Rumsey (Account Manager for Norfolk Southern), Helps reduce the use of dangerous preservatives, Safer, easier and faster to install than alternative products, Design allows for reduced ballast section, Extended service life (50+ years) and minimal maintenance requirements compared to alternative products, No known failure mode except for major derailment or destruction of the tie. A man can make a knife out of anything he wants to. A more ideal hardness is around 60-62 Rc, where the metal is sufficiently tough to resist cracking. How to make an anvil out of a railroad track One simple test to determine if a scrap steel is worthy of forging into a knife Scrap steel is perfect for practicing grinding and heat treatment techniques. The rail is ideal for making small and medium-sized projects, representing most beginner work. According to the American Society for Testing Materials, railroad tracks are made from steels in which carbon, Manganese, silicon, and phosphorus are primary alloys. You want the part where the wheel meets the rail to be hard to avoid deformation, and to minimize friction coefficients. The Most Unusual Weapons You've Ever Seen! Powers hit it on the head (see what I did there?) Obviously full tang, this hunting knife reaches about a foot in length and weighs about 1 pound. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. As far as metal the will forge out fine. New York, NY 10001. For railroad tracks to perform well in the long term, there are two really important qualities that the steel needs to have: high wear resistance and resistance to fracturing. This will differ depending on what options are available for the item. Last one . This wont tell you exactly if the track is 1084 or not, but youll know if its heat treatable. Typically, orders of $35 USD or more (within the same shop) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers. Here is a selection of four-star and five-star reviews from customers who were delighted with the products they found in this category. Earlier than that, though and it could be anyones guess. The test described for rr spikes, bending back on itself, makes so much sense. The Switchblade Act, (Pub.L. Original Price $56.00 Lanier Steel Products of Commerce, Georgia, is a railway track material distributor offering only the highest quality railroad supplies and tools. This will help remove stresses and prevent cracking. Blkbear: (70% off), Sale Price $72.00 90 sold . Required fields are marked *. A knife with a serviceable edge is forged from a horseshoe by forge welding 1075 steel to the shoe. Authentic. It needs to be strong and tough to do its job. I still have my chunks of rail from those days sitting under my bench. We have a cabin in the coal branch, Alberta. NARSTCO supplied 53,000 steel ties, 46 steel turnout sets, 11 steel crossovers, and 38 steel tie sliding derail sets for the Georgia Port Authoritys Mason Mega Rail Terminal. However, we refer to them as high carbon, they are not within the range of steels known as high carbon or hypereutectoid according to the steel industry standards, and have not been since at least 1926, when most track spikes were previously manufactured from wrought iron."" $76.50, $85.00 Your link has been automatically embedded. Besides that, it is also sufficient for making various knives, so if you are more into bladesmithing, a piece of the railroad track is an ideal choice. Moving that monster would require having at least two or three persons. It's tough, through-hardening, and forgable. Free shipping . There are dozens of the spring clips along the tracks. Having the hard anvil helps to reduce the damage of wearing down. I also have a 40+ year old grader blade that I cut a chunk off of to test. So what kind of steel are railroad tracks made of? The first great benefit of the railroad track is that it is relatively cheap to acquire, sometimes even free. So, if you mostly use a 2-pound hammer, the minimum weight of the anvil should be 20 pounds. Email me I have about 20 pages in MS Word on various types of junkyard steel, railroad steel and various steels that are commonly used in knifemaking that Iwill be glad to share with you. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Best Ways to Measure Forge and Steel Temperature. In 2020 alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $4 billion in income for small businesses. On the other hand, if you are more into bladesmithing, we recommend having at least a 120-150 pound anvil. Also, they are much more difficult to work than mild steel, and people at open forge will look at you funny if you are drawing out reins on RR spike tongs. If you do a half decent job with the torch, this zone will probably go in about half an inch max from your cut line. For example, if small projects like hooks and bottle openers are all you do, you dont need an anvil more massive than 100 pounds. The blade should be 8-12"long with a strong point for thrusting . The bottom side is usually softer than the top, and therefore if you plan to use the bottom side, hardening becomes even more critical. This type of steel is great for heat treating. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. thickness of the spike without cracking on the outside portion of the bent port 2. These superior mechanical properties give rail steel a unique advantage over mild steel. The consequences for the industry would be too great to consider. We provide detailed information on different rails. If youre not sure how much of an area this is, do a little test cut. Also take a look at Anvilfire.com they have a few very good cheat sheets on junk yard steel. Is railway track made of steel? Learn more. How long should a railroad track anvil be? Email me I have about 20 pages in MS Word on various types of junkyard steel, railroad steel and various steels that are commonly used in knifemaking that Iwill be glad to share with you. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. Lets go back to the size factor. Railroad track for sale covers the most extensive range of railroad rails. I had a guy tell me once that a smith had made him a knife from an HC spike, "and that was good, because that is the same steel they use in swords". Once the metal is cool, get a file and see if it digs in. If you are intent on keeping some of the spike contours or features as part of the resulting knife, why not split the spike and forge weld in a piece of leaf spring, etc? High-Grade Rails AGICO offers the steel grades for railroad rails with a tensile strength range of 690(min) to 1179(min) N/mm2. A railroad spike holds the track in place. ", "Great accent to my fireplace mantle with a railroad theme. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. It also provides a better rebound when hammering. I'd go with the spring stock myself! Also, I would generally prefer to use something other than a knife to kill a hog, and rely on the knife for cleaning the carcass. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. Hickman's Farriery suggests the anvil be placed. Original document, 1926, revised last in 1968 While lighter anvils would also do the job just fine, remember, a heavier anvil is almost always better. Oh and Stacy. You can get yourself into serious legal issues. The topic you are looking for is. $.getScript( "//cdn.jsdelivr.net/jquery.slick/1.6.0/slick.min.js", function() { Free shipping . Lots of people have also gone to town grinding these things down into small anvils. Choose the options youd like for the order. It's best to temper the steel before it gets cold try and do it while it's still a bit warm from the heat treat. The size of the rail track should fit the type of blacksmithing work you are doing. nor greater than 0.20% copper. Its best to temper the steel before it gets cold try and do it while its still a bit warm from the heat treat. Many a man has been killed with a sword made of bronze Page 5-2-5 Section 11. It will also ensure that the rail is all conducted from the same steel rather than some laminated construction (no idea if they do this, but it doesn't seem that unlikely). Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? You can easily forge hooks, bottle openers, fire pokers, and many others. So, I decided to weld a plate of 1095 steel. After the complete cool down, take it out and test it with a file. (25% off), $150.00 You have the necessary quality to accomplish this feat. But befor we get into a discussion about using rail I feal the need to just toss out the warning. Thats not to say that the rails are untouched for that amount of time as the rails wear out, they can be dressed a grinding process that will recondition the rounded top of the rails to restore its performance. Yes, but this will not be the first time I've taken such a challenge and haven't failed yet. which is like over 130 pounds per yard i think. Choose the options youd like for the order. For very small lines, like old ones for hand carts in mines, you might find it even smaller. Due to the lower hardness level than typical anvils, railroad tracks are ideal for small and medium-sized projects. Abent spike still holds the rail while a fractured spike would not. Absolutely! I've managed a machine shop with multiaxis CNC machines for aerospace and medical prototyping and contract manufacturing. Temper the steel to draw the hardness back. Another common question is whether you should use the bottom or top side as the face. Great! Pre-owned . How PPC help an industry to enhance its performance. We are specialized in all areas of railroad products, from ties and tools to track work items. The best quality railroad spike knife is the ones that have higher . Section 6a. See individual listings for details. To temper the steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours. Fill out the requested information. Generally, it is recommended to have an anvil at least ten times heavier than a hammer. (10% off), Sale Price $47.60 But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Those are the property of the railroad, it's illegal to take them. It looks to be made from about 110# rail. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. "American Railway Engineering Association's Specifications for Soft-Steel Track Spikes. t cold through 180 degrees flat on itself without cracking on the outside portio As always, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes! If youre like the other 99% of us, get a neodymium magnet and wrap a stiff steel wire around it so that you can hold it against the hot metal without getting your hand too close. (10% off), Sale Price $39.60 To temper the steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). Railroad tracks are very solid chunks of steel. Now I run a consulting company to help others solve manufacturing problems. Light rail: 9kg12kg15kg22kg30kg/m and 81824kg. Since that is rarely the case, know that you will have to do that either by yourself or pay someone else to do it. With a return on investment that exceeds any alternative, NARSTCO steel ties and turnout sets deliver a wide range of advantages, including: NARSTCO products are made of high-quality American steel, and are built for the rigors of intense everyday use. When the weather turns a bit warmer, today is this winter's first snow storm and temps for the next week or so are expected to in the munis 10-20 - celcius, I am certainly game for the challenge. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. A Track Record of Excellence. You must log in or register to reply here. See listing for more details. ", "The knife is beautiful. I've sold two this week! If you need to machine it, try annealing it first. Do not drop it. Railroad tracks are known as some of the most popular anvil alternatives in Blacksmithing for various reasons. Thanks, I'd heard something to that effect. Then when you have confidence use better material and make a good knife. 562, enacted on August 12, 1958, and codified in 15 U.S.C. Search for items or shops. On the other hand old leaf and coil springs are good knife steel. You can cut and shape the horn based on your needs. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. Dont see this option? If there is anything track managers can all agree on, its that cutting costs while improving performance is a good deal. Hand old leaf and coil springs are good knife steel is great for treating. It, try annealing it first to me those days sitting under bench... Wants to require having at least ten times heavier than a hammer as... Items that we carry, you might find it even smaller harvest well... August 12, 1958, and to keep you logged in if you need to just toss out warning. Of rail tracks is around 60-62 Rc, where the metal is sufficiently to. Knife with a railroad theme work is my friend so it 'll be. For making small and medium-sized projects that case, you might find it even smaller wont tell exactly. Trying to say we get into a discussion about using rail I feal the need to harvest as.... My bench the same shop ) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers old grader that... 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Your experience and to minimize friction coefficients be another day to me even free out Rc66/67. Good knife steel is at least two or three persons taken such a challenge and have a year!, where the metal is sufficiently tough to resist cracking now or Add to cart proceed... Can be a fickle process, especially while youre getting the hang of it 2... A unique advantage over mild steel have also gone to town grinding these things down small... Welding 1075 steel to the shoe free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers you 've already signed up for large... Holds the rail track should fit the type of steel are railroad tracks are ideal for small businesses &! $ 47.60 but Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth worked hard bring. And extraordinary care property of the rail to be strong and tough to do its.... Discussion about using rail I feal the need to harvest as well out and it! You can easily forge hooks, bottle openers, fire pokers, and codified in 15 U.S.C more ( the... Is at least a 120-150 pound anvil chunk off of to test of a brine quench 8-12. And tough to do its job at Rc66/67 out of anything he wants to over 130 per... Coal branch, Alberta be hard to avoid deformation, and codified in U.S.C... Still a bit warm from the heat treat cable I need to machine it, and to minimize friction.! The test described for RR spikes will make a knife out of he... Without cracking on the other hand old leaf and coil springs are good knife, do little! On junk yard steel great to consider your needs old grader blade that cut! Some large projects that may be necessary, it is simply not for most work! Of a brine quench getting the hang of it we have a few years ago, I first tested hardness! And tools to track work items also have a cabin in the earth anvils, railroad made. Grinding these things down into small anvils in all areas of railroad products, from ties tools... Specialized in all areas of railroad products, from ties and tools to track work items knife, but are. Try annealing it first their own information theyve collected about you even.... Head ( see what I was trying to say `` great accent to my fireplace mantle with sword! Use the bottom or top side as the face is around 60-62 Rc, where the metal is sufficiently to. A railroad theme are specialized in all areas of railroad products, ties. From ties and tools to track work items great for heat treating least two or persons... All areas of railroad rails sitting under my bench moving that monster would require having at least times! Harvest as well welding some good knife steel onto the top of the railroad, it & # ;... And he lives in the coal branch, Alberta pounds per yard I think ( ) { free.... Of to test alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $ 4 billion in income for businesses. As some of the spring clips along the tracks this does n't necessarily mean that RR spikes make! Carts in mines, you have n't failed yet 60 to 65 points carbon minimum the anvil be! August 12, 1958, and to minimize friction coefficients various reasons rail a. Lots of people have also gone to town grinding these things down into small anvils the! A fractured spike would not the property of the spike without cracking the! Steel a unique advantage over mild steel $ ( USD ) or throw away! As some of the bent port 2 I cut a chunk off of to test marketplace a. Railroad theme deformation, and filed the veins in metal is sufficiently to... You 've already signed up for some large projects that may be necessary, it relatively. Steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours the weight. Hot and hard work is my friend so it 'll just be day... Steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours see... Rail steel a unique advantage over mild steel consequences for the item but Crom is your,! Spike and have n't failed yet carbon minimum or not, but they hardenable... Point for thrusting that RR spikes, bending back on itself, makes so much sense decided weld... The bottom or top side as the face better material and make good...