Can a railroad spike be hardened?

Try heat treating it to see if you can harden it. Since no rail spikes are high carbon steel, you’ll never get a regular file to skate across the hardened metal instead of biting in. That only works when the metal is harder than the file, and railroad spikes don’t get that hard.

Are railroad spikes tempered?

Two types of railroad spikes are popular, which are lower carbon and higher carbon. As a fact most quality blades are composed of relatively high carbon steel and are tempered after hardening. As a result, you get flexible, strong blades with a hard edge to remain sharp.

What should I quench railroad spikes in?

5 gallons of water (This a good volume to work with for quenching, and there are plenty of buckets and pails around just the right size.) 5 lbs table salt (plain or iodized, canning salt or rock salt, it makes no difference.) 32 oz Dawn Liquid Dishwashing Detergent (blue.

Can you use railroad spikes to make knives?

To make the knife you need a railroad spike and some standard blacksmithing tools: an anvil, hammer, tongs, and some wrenches to twist the spike. A belt sander is used to sharpen the blade and put a final polish on the blade.

How heavy is a railroad spike?

The weight of a 5½ ×9/16× 9/16-in. spike is about ½ lb. The head is usually made oblong, about, 1 3/16 × 1½ ins., the under side of the same being inclined to correspond to the slope of the top side of the rail flange, which is usually 13 degrees.

Can you date railroad spikes?

Railroads in the U.S. no longer use date nails. With the advent of the computer it is easier to keep records that way. Also, the treatments are pretty much fine tuned and standardized at this point.

What are railroad spikes worth?

If you buy them online, used railroad spikes cost ROUGHLY (it will fluctuate) $. 80/spike to $1.30/spike – this doesn’t include shipping. Buying in bulk will get you a lower per unit price and will generally save you money on shipping.

What should I forge out of railroad spikes?

List of Railroad Spike Projects Ideas For Blacksmiths (With Videos & Advice)

1) Railroad Spike Tongs.
2) Railroad Spike Bottle Opener.
3) Railroad Spike Knife.
4) Railroad Spike Tomahawk.
5) Railroad Spike Garden Bracket.

Are railroad spikes hardenable steel?

There is no such thing as a “High Carbon Steel” railroad spike, but there is such thing as an “HC” “Higher Carbon” spike! It is generally accepted by most sources that anything from 0.3% Carbon to about 0.6% carbon is considered a “Medium Carbon steel”, and anything above 0.6% carbon a “high carbon steel”.

How long does it take to heat a railroad spike?

After the grinding of spike knife, we need to heat treat the blade. Heat the blade into a red/orange heat and quenching it in either water or oil after that toss it in the oven at around 350-400 for about an hour and let it cool. If you need railroad spike, we can provide professional railroad spikes for you.

Is it legal to scrap railroad spikes?

scrap yards wont take any spikes,plates or sections of rail. It is not illegal to own a piece of railroad track or railroad spikes. It is however illegal to go onto railroad property to take things from the property. The scrap metal that comes into Waccamaw Metal Recycling doesn’t stay long.

Is taking railroad spikes illegal?

Techincally, the spikes are the property of the railroad. You should not be taking them without permission.

Is there such a thing as a high carbon railroad spike?

While I can’t argue their edge retention or hardness properties when forged into a knife (in THIS article), we can easily solve some myths about their carbon content and material composition. There is no such thing as a “High Carbon Steel” railroad spike, but there is such thing as an “HC” “Higher Carbon” spike!

What does HC stand for in railroad spikes?

The carbon content of railroad spikes is a widely debated and openly discussed topic amongst the blacksmithing and knifemaking communities, so lets explore some facts. Often I hear that “you should only make knives out of the HC Spikes” “HC stands for High Carbon” and “HC spikes make great knives”.

Can you make knives out of HC spikes?

Often I hear that “you should only make knives out of the HC Spikes” “HC stands for High Carbon” and “HC spikes make great knives”. While I can’t argue their edge retention or hardness properties when forged into a knife (in THIS article), we can easily solve some myths about their carbon content and material composition.

Which is stronger a MC spike or a HC Spike?

(ASTMA36) but to stick to only one standard- we’ll call it “low carbon steel” and compare it to 1018 steel (AISI1018) (Carbon content of 0.18%). In conclusion, an MC Spike is slightly lower strength than steel you’d get at Home Depot, and an HC spike is VERY similar, but potentially “SLIGHTLY” stronger…….than steel from the isle in Home Depot.

Can a railroad spike be hardened? Try heat treating it to see if you can harden it. Since no rail spikes are high carbon steel, you’ll never get a regular file to skate across the hardened metal instead of biting in. That only works when the metal is harder than the file, and railroad spikes…