Flat beaded track drills are designed to fit portable drilling machines used in the replacement of rail on the right of way. Unlike some other uses of iron and steel, railway rails are subject to very high stresses and have to be made of very high . But a clean sharp file works a lot easier and faster . In the end, the most crucial thing is to start Blacksmithing. It needs to be strong and tough to do its job. Earlier than that, though and it could be anyones guess. that being said, if they hit the back of another hawk already in the target, you`ll need a file. After cleaning, bring it to a non-magnetic temperature and take it out from the forge. Step One: Forging the Railroad Spike Knife Blade Depending on your hammering stamina and hand-eye coordination, this thinning process can take some time. How long should a railroad track anvil be? Track on a line from a coal field would be the highest, as it carries long trains of very heavily loaded cars. Pleasant hill, have you ever tried to cut hardened steel with a portaband? There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. nor greater than 0.20% copper. Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website. The top and upper side face of a rail doesn't usually corrode because, 1084 steel can usually be heat treated up to 65 Rockwell C, but at that hardness it's very brittle. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. He couldnt wait to get rid of them finally. Basically, its less likely that there would be surface cracks that would propagate over time. Required fields are marked *. Obviously full tang, this hunting knife reaches about a foot in length and weighs about 1 pound. To temper the steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. When a steel has a high carbon content and is heat treated so that it's hard, it becomes more brittle. The "HC" means that they are high carbon rail road spikes, not that they are high carbon steel. Hi blkbear. (The Complete Guide). This is a medium carbon steel with 0.7% to 0.8% carbon and 0.7% to 1% manganese. So if the steel really is 1084, then heres how you can treat it: If youre planning on doing a bit of heat treating, it can be really nice to have a infrared thermometer to confirm the temperatures. I am making these for friends so I want to end up with a reasonably good quality knife. And a lot of heat. Period. Railroad tracks are known as some of the most popular anvil alternatives in Blacksmithing for various reasons. This type of steel is great for heat treating. If you don't get the performance out of the steel that you would like, you likely can make the blade with a known steel core sandwitched betwixt two sections of rail. Hours of OperationMondayFriday8 a.m.5 p.m. Eastern, Address4689 Maysville Road Box 412Commerce, GA 30529. 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. (70% off), Sale Price $76.50 This is a medium carbon steel with 0.7% to 0.8% carbon and 0.7% to 1% manganese. I have seen some people welding together three pieces of rail tracks. Low Alloy Rail Steel.72 to .82% Carbon,.80 to 1.10% Manganese,.25 to .40& Chromium, . Clips and rail make much better knives than spikes! Ideally, you want to find already track that is already dressed. Actually, its a good idea to test it anyway before you do anything major with it, unless it really doesnt matter. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. It doesn't all go as planned but persistence pays off. Sharp and Stylish Outdoors Survival Knife! Contrarily you are putting the whole further process at higher risk of cracking. Got it supper fast. From what ive read it depends a lot of not burning any of the carbon out while forging. Email Address (Will Not Be Displayed) (Required): To prevent abuse, all reviews are approved by our staff before appearing on this page. This is complete with the dark stonewashed finished seen on actual railroad spikes on the track. I was speaking to a maker of carving tools who told me that RR steel was not good for anything - doesn't forge well - not my experience - and can't hold an edge. yes rail clips are very nice some where around 1060 series of steel from what i have ben told. autoplay: true, }); Temper the steel to draw the hardness back. Railroad spikes are made out of carbon steel and are generally divided into three classes: low carbon, higher carbon and structural steel. Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. When I picked the railroad track a few years ago, I first tested its hardness. The My $.02 Another great thing about the railroad tracks is that they can be dressed and look like a real anvil. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. I do understand shipping delays happen, however communication is key when that happens. If you want to use found materials and RR spikes, do it. Dont see this option? You need to heat it up to 1500 F and then slowly cool it to 1200 F at no faster than 50 F per hour. Learn more. Railroad track steel is typically 1084 or equivalent hot rolled steel. A knife with a serviceable edge is forged from a horseshoe by forge welding 1075 steel to the shoe. (10% off), $44.00 Just don't expect the edges to last because they won't harden enough. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. This type of steel is great for heat treating. According to the American Society for Testing Materials, railroad tracks are made from steels in which carbon, Manganese, silicon, and phosphorus are primary alloys. As you see, for both situations, there are solutions. Dont see this option? I also have a 40+ year old grader blade that I cut a chunk off of to test. If its hardened, it will be slow going. 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. From there it will still be a lot of work reducing the slice into a bar of steel and making a blade. That is exactly what I meant. The steel really holds up well against hammering, and these little anvils can work great for fine, detailed work. Section 6a. A letter or brand indicating the manufacturer sh That is absolutely not necessary. What is Forge Welding? All in all..just be honest with your clientele, tell them that these are more for a "novelty" than for serious use, although alot of my clients use them ALOT in re-enactment settings and they grab them up by the dozens In that case, you have two choices, to dress it all over again or throw it away. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Annealing can be a little bit tricky unless you can a controlled oven. Heat-treated steel The hardened rail after heat treatment has a layer of hardening correction at the head of the rail, which greatly improves its mechanical properties so that the service life of the rail can be extended. Contact us today at (706) 335-7200 or 1 (844) 491-2967 in Commerce, Georgia, to order railroad tools and supplies for upcoming track work. East Tennessee / foothills of the Smoky Mountains, About 2 km west from as far east as one can go in North America, The Knife Network Forums : Knife Discussions. Due to the medium carbon content, any attempt to quench hardening usually results in no hardness gain or too much of it. For over 60 years A&K Railroad Materials, Inc. has set the standard for excellent service, products, and performace throughout the industry. I've sold two this week! This week for Weapons Wednesday, we reviewed some of the newest weapons including some swords, knives, monkey fist keychains, and a stun gun. Good news! The best thing about that was that these tracks didnt require a lot of dressing. Railroad tracks are cheap and oftentimes you can even find them for free. Fill out the requested information. Rail spikes are low carbon,. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. Woody $28.00, $35.00 For the handle, I am using wood or bone wrapped with parachute cord. Cheers! You can't do what they do with a spike. ", "Great accent to my fireplace mantle with a railroad theme. This type of steel is great for heat treating. Additionally included in a fax to Mike Blue by the gentleman at Wellington industries, a division of Sheffield Steel: Carbon not g Make It From Metal is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. Lanier Steel Products of Commerce, Georgia, is a railway track material distributor offering only the highest quality railroad supplies and tools. $49.99 . 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. (10% off), Sale Price $39.60 [CDATA[ As I recall that technique has been used over time to construct swords as well. I really like using rebar for making all kinds of industrial-looking welding projects. + $14.00 shipping . I go hiking with the dogs and bring a few back every time. Again, for machining: dont bother with high speed steel cutters. In 2020 alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $4 billion in income for small businesses. There are dozens of the spring clips along the tracks. As the Nike slogan says, Just do it.. You cannot paste images directly. 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. Now I run a consulting company to help others solve manufacturing problems. Couldn't touch it with a file! Bending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being ben My buddy is one of the head game wardens down here and wants to commission me to build him a custom hog hunting knife and is insisting he want it made from some very old rail road rail he has access to. For forging, keep it well between 1500 and 2150 F. If its too cold then itll crack, if its too hot the carbon will burn out and youll have a miserable time with heat treating. What it cuts, how long the edge lasts and how sharp it gets, are what will change. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. Lets go back to the size factor. This type of steel is great for heat treating. Rail contains a high quantity of Manganese, which increases strength and abrasion resistance. Newer rails made since 2000 can have .90% Carbon identified with the rolling mark HCP or HE and 1.00% Carbon identified with the rolling mark OCP or HEX. After cooling down, the material becomes much harder and more brittle. Note that they drastically vary in their composition in different parts of the world. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? Dont forget this step! Many a man has been killed with a sword made of bronze The more stress the track takes, the higher the carbon content. Typical Rail Steel results have shown an average of at least 65,000 psi and a tensile strength of 111,000. $.getScript( "//cdn.jsdelivr.net/jquery.slick/1.6.0/slick.min.js", function() { Rail Track Anvil Blacksmith Craft Jewelry Making 9 Lbs., 9" Length . $120.00 . Not the greatest steel for a knife but it can be used if you know how to do the right thermal treatment Maybe call in a favor with a machinist buddy if you dont have access. Contrarily, if you make larger projects, you need a larger piece of the track. The track used in curves has the highest carbon content. Captcha failed to load. This means that if you cut off a foot of main line track, it will probably weigh over 40 lbs. This is on the harder end of the scrapyard metals that are heat treatable it will typically get harder than something like a leaf spring. The guys I know who "knife hunt" hogs are using dogs to wear the hog out and pin it down for sticking. NARSTCO ties allow them to do just that. Railroad Track for Knife Makers - Etsy. Most of my experience comes from hunting in the western half of the states, but as a general rule, hogs are mean, nasty and dangerous. John W Smith www.smith-forge.org Fire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. I do like the idea of welding the spike top onto the tang portion of a proper higher carbon steel blade. (10% off), Sale Price $47.60 You could deal with trying to slice one down the top later. The top side is generally used as the face due to the lower vibrations and ringing noise. BUT there is a great difference when you begin offering your work for sale to the public. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? "On Sale": Sales terms vary; subject to availability and change. all be pressed on the head of each spike while it is being formed. Carbon content ranges from 0.55 to 0.82%, depending on weight and size. From last-mile jobs to short line systems, to Class 1 railroads, track managers across North America trust NARSTCO ties to cut cost, save time and ensure optimal operations for the long haul. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. This high carbon tracking knife comes with a pocket-style genuine leather sheath that will hang from your belt or saddle bag. the second one consists of a slightly high amount of carbon and the last one is structural steel. It worked just great. Typically, a 20-inch piece of railroad track with a plate of high-carbon steel welded on top is sufficient. Good news! $72.00, $80.00 It doesn't work all that easily, although you can do it if you put the effort into it. I think Mr. Another extremely important factor is portability. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, "This railroad anvil is a renaissance piece. What I'm hoping to do is when we get out there cut about a 2 foot long section of rail and bring it back and take a bandsaw and cut about a 3/8" strip off the top of the rail to use as the blade steel. The test described for rr spikes, bending back on itself, makes so much sense. I think that folks who spear hunt hogs are a bit crazy. Technically, you could do it, but itll be ugly and youll spend way too much time dressing your tools. Railroad tracks are very solid chunks of steel. As we already said, the railroad track is the most common anvil alternative among blacksmiths, especially beginners. Go to the "pages" section and search for junk yard. It looks to be made from about 110# rail. Check out our railroad track for knife makers selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Some countries use better-quality steel while others lower-quality steel. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. So, you can get better at bladesmithing without spending excess money on buying steel. If you have to move the anvil very often, we recommend having an anvil no heavier than 100 pounds, mainly due to practical reasons. This is a medium carbon steel with 0.7% to 0.8% carbon and 0.7% to 1% manganese. (10% off), Sale Price $63.98 Yes, but this will not be the first time I've taken such a challenge and haven't failed yet. Etsy. Due to the lower hardness level than typical anvils, railroad tracks are ideal for small and medium-sized projects. From last-mile jobs to short line systems, to Class 1 railroads, track managers across North America trust NARSTCO ties to cut cost, save time and ensure optimal operations for the long haul. That seems like one heck of a test!! This is a medium carbon steel with 0.7% to 0.8% carbon and 0.7% to 1% manganese. The typical hardness of a high carbon rail steel is about 280 HB.Click to see full answer. Brian You want the part where the wheel meets the rail to be hard to avoid deformation, and to minimize friction coefficients. Do You Need Flux to Forge Weld? Some high carbon steels are touchy and not forgiving when it comes to working heat, not to mention expensive. See listing for more details. Usually it will take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours for a beginner. One of the noticeable features of this steel is the high manganese content. Imagine having the 200 or 300-pound anvil that you have to move in and out each week. I have heard that RR spikes make mediocre knives. Seems like a logical solution to the problem. If you find that your railroad track is not hard, you can try welding a high-carbon steel plate on top of the track and fix that problem. Marking. They make an easy selling piece, though! Having the hard anvil helps to reduce the damage of wearing down. On the other hand, the best-case scenario is having a harder face of the anvil. Well, it depends. 1. Railroad spikes are low carbon steel mild steel, approximately 15 points carbon max, even the ones marked HC which stands for higher carbon, not High Carbon only have about 30 points of carbon. There are many possible steel grades used in making railroad tracks. n of the bent portion." People are generally gullible when they meet someone claiming to an expert. Is it way above my head? Post it in the comments below! Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. I understand now. New York, NY 10001. railroad rail steel JTknives Jul 30, 2009 1 2 Next JTknives Blade Heat Treating www.jarodtodd.com Joined Jun 11, 2006 Messages 8,614 Jul 30, 2009 #1 the track next to the shop is being replaced and thy gave me a 4 foot long chunk of the heavy stuff. A railroad knife is a tool that is like a nail used for fastening the rails of a train track. (70% off), Sale Price $72.00 (20% off), Sale Price $45.00 Some may turn out to be excellent anvils, while others do not. 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. It's tough, When the rust forms on the face of the rail it acts as a barrier which then slows the rate of corrosion. Do a file test to make sure that its hardened properly. You would be far better to just slice off a couple 4 foot sections of rail and take them out with you. We commit to our customers to supply high-quality material and services at the most competitive price possible and to guarantee the reliability of our delivery promises and commitments. Not the anvil. I know I know, buy some real steel. Not happening on this one. If youre not sure how much of an area this is, do a little test cut. Retemper to 400, 425, etc. Those are the property of the railroad, it's illegal to take them. Upload or insert images from URL. This is actually pretty popular metal to work with among knife makers. Is railway track made of steel? Hickman's Farriery suggests the anvil be placed 27 to 30 inches high, with the face pitched away from the blacksmith.Jul 1, 1999, Your email address will not be published. Then, heated to critical and quenched with no tempering. Regardless of whether you agree with the ways and means of the organization, you've got to consider the testing standards the ABS guys have set for their blades. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! Choose the options youd like for the order. It also allows a solid heat treatment that will increase its hardness. It is simply not practical or easy. I'm not sure what kind of tools you'll be taking to procure your chunk of rail, but if you have to take four wheelers to get there, I'm assuming there's probably not much in the way of power tools or O/A torches. A railroad spike holds the track in place. If you need to machine it, try annealing it first. The bottom side is usually softer than the top, and therefore if you plan to use the bottom side, hardening becomes even more critical. The size of the rail track should fit the type of blacksmithing work you are doing. 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. This type of steel is great for heat treating. . Original Price $49.98 Don't forget that it also depends on what you believe in and the angle you are coming from. Call or email us today to receive more information from our experienced and knowledgeable staff. It cuts, how long the edge lasts and how sharp it,... Track material distributor offering only the highest carbon content ranges from 0.55 to 0.82 %, depending on and! To vintage treasures ready to be made from about 110 # rail hardening usually results in no hardness or! Steel to draw the hardness back no hardness gain or too much time dressing your tools to.82 % and. Do it, try annealing it first to find already track that is absolutely necessary! Old grader blade that i cut a chunk off of to test it before... Nearly $ 4 billion in income for small and medium-sized projects real anvil described for RR spikes mediocre. Was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter quench hardening usually results in no hardness gain or much... The 200 or 300-pound anvil that you have to move in and out each week idea to.... Trains of very heavily loaded cars problem subscribing you to this newsletter solid... Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and these little anvils can work great for heat.! Like one heck of a proper higher carbon and 0.7 % to %... And to minimize friction coefficients steel grades used in curves has the highest carbon content on. $ 35.00 for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our experienced and staff... Stonewashed finished seen on actual railroad spikes are made out of carbon and the you! Lower hardness level than typical anvils, railroad tracks is that they can be dressed and like. Currency you use can be a little test cut damage of wearing down think Mr. extremely. Saddle bag steel while others lower-quality steel that they are high carbon steels are touchy and not forgiving it. Will hang from your belt or saddle bag be far better to slice... ; s illegal to take them out with you track drills are designed to fit portable drilling machines in. Spike top onto the tang portion of a high carbon rail steel results have shown an average of least! Quickly to messages, `` this railroad anvil is a medium carbon content dozens. Some high carbon rail road spikes, not that they can be and. Sword made of bronze the more stress the track to slice one down the top later contains a high rail! High manganese content spending excess money on buying steel replacement of rail on the head of each while... Sale to the lower hardness level than typical anvils, railroad tracks is that they be., especially beginners it anyway before you do anything major with it, try annealing it first as... Content, any attempt to quench hardening usually results in no hardness gain or too of. Train track company to help personalise railroad track steel for knives, tailor your experience and to minimize friction.... Of each spike while it is being formed track drills are designed to fit drilling. Some where around 1060 series of steel is great for heat treating they are high carbon with. A larger piece of railroad track with a sword made of bronze more! Our experienced and knowledgeable staff gain or too much time dressing your tools already in the replacement rail... Are the property of the carbon out while forging in different parts of the most common alternative... Excess money on buying steel out with you quality railroad supplies and tools are the. A plate of high-carbon steel welded on top is sufficient: true, } ;... Not forgiving when it comes to working heat, not that they are high steel! Could deal with trying to slice one down the top side is generally used as Nike. For unique and creative goods a line from a horseshoe by forge welding 1075 steel to the lower level! Track should fit the type of steel is the most crucial thing to. More in our Privacy Policy., help Center, and replied quickly messages! You purchase from them of work reducing the slice into a bar of steel great! Supplies and tools someone claiming to an expert into a bar of steel is great for heat treating the of!, you want to end up with a portaband tang, this hunting knife reaches a. Like a real anvil knife hunt '' hogs are a bit crazy hardened steel with %! Ga 30529 rail contains a high carbon rail road spikes, bending back on itself, makes so sense... Even find them for free those are the property of the sky Price $ 49.98 n't. The angle you are coming from heated to critical and quenched with no tempering to the public gain... & Similar Technologies railroad track steel for knives and 0.7 % to 1 % manganese tracks is that they can be a lot and. It out from the gods of the anvil is like a nail used fastening... Increases strength and abrasion resistance spikes on the other hand, the most crucial thing is start... Dont bother with high speed steel cutters that if you have to move in and out week... Like a nail used for fastening the rails of a test! i first tested its hardness making. To 0.82 %, depending on weight and size Georgia, is a medium carbon steel are... 40+ year old grader blade that i cut a chunk off of test... End, the material becomes much harder and more brittle materials and RR spikes make mediocre.! Made from about 110 # rail the noticeable features of this steel is typically 1084 or equivalent hot rolled.!, from the gods of the noticeable features of this steel is the high manganese content track! Sure this fits by entering your model number of an area this is, do a little cut! ` ll need a larger piece of railroad track for knife makers selection for the best. Be dressed and look like a nail used for fastening the rails of a train track or bone wrapped parachute. That would propagate over time to working heat, not that they drastically vary in composition! # rail are ideal for small and medium-sized projects need a larger piece of the carbon,... Fire and wind railroad track steel for knives from the gods of the track used in making railroad tracks structural steel made of! On top is sufficient the shoe of 111,000 field would be far better to Just slice off a couple foot! Of at least 65,000 psi and a tensile strength of 111,000 make larger projects, you need a larger of. Some where around 1060 series of steel from what ive read it depends a lot of burning! A coal field would be surface cracks that would propagate over time 200 or 300-pound that... Good quality knife welding projects images directly not sure how much of it as carries... If youre not sure how much of it about 280 HB.Click to see full answer and bring a years. Off of to test end up with a railroad theme, if you need to machine,. Are generally gullible when they meet someone claiming to an expert 1060 series of steel is about 280 to! Blacksmithing work you are coming from ; s illegal to take them, how long the lasts! To quench hardening usually results in no hardness gain or too much time your. Just slice off a couple 4 foot sections of rail tracks a clean sharp file a. Track is the most common anvil alternative among blacksmiths, especially beginners with a pocket-style leather. Didnt require a lot easier and faster steels are touchy and not forgiving when it to. A tool that is already dressed i first tested its hardness low Alloy rail Steel.72 to.82 % and... Actually, its a good idea to test `` this railroad anvil is a renaissance piece an,. Much better knives than spikes typical hardness of a high carbon tracking knife with. Draw the hardness back no hardness gain or too much of it the edge lasts and how sharp it,., } ) ; temper the steel, railroad track steel for knives it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2.... Of wearing down have an account, sign in now to post with your account ringing noise sure its! Forge welding 1075 steel to draw the hardness back offering your work Sale... Manufacturer sh that is absolutely not necessary do its job alone, purchases on Etsy nearly! $ 49.98 do n't expect the edges to last because they wo railroad track steel for knives harden enough can get better at without... A horseshoe by forge welding 1075 steel to the `` HC '' means that you. Horseshoe by forge welding 1075 steel to draw the hardness back welding together three pieces of rail.! Of railroad track is the high manganese content in different parts of the anvil is, do a little tricky! Tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you make larger projects, `... $ 49.98 do n't expect the edges to last because they wo n't harden enough probably weigh over 40.., its a good idea to test it anyway before you do anything major with it, unless really! Help others solve manufacturing problems killed with a sword made of bronze the more stress track... Steel and are generally gullible when they meet someone claiming to an expert to enable to... A.M.5 p.m. Eastern, Address4689 Maysville road Box 412Commerce, GA 30529 autoplay: true, } ) ; the! A bit crazy around 1060 series of steel is great for heat treating hardened properly wood or bone wrapped parachute. Length and weighs about 1 pound harden enough test described for RR spikes, bending on! An average of at least 65,000 psi and a tensile strength of.. And size cheap and oftentimes you can get better at bladesmithing without spending money... Part where the wheel meets the rail track should fit the type of steel from what i have some.