List of Blacksmith Railroad Spike Project Ideas 2022 [Updated]
- 1) Railroad Spike Tongs To make tongs, you will need two railroad spikes, a hammer, punch, chisel, forge, and an anvil or another appropriate work surface. ...
- 2) Railroad Spike Bottle Opener ...
- 3) Railroad Spike Knife ...
- 4) Railroad Spike Tomahawk ...
- 5) Railroad Spike Wall Hook ...
- 6) Railroad Spike Steak Turner ...
- 7) Railroad Spike Garden Hoe ...
- 8) Railroad Spike Spoon ...
Full Answer
What can you make out of railroad spikes?
What can you make with railroad spikes?
- Welcome - The Wood Grain Cottage.
- Railroad spikes.
- Barn wood with antique railroad nails wine rack.
- 8 Antique Hooks Old Railroad Spike Art "Dark Walnut" Vintage Style Coat Rack Hat | eBay.
- Here are seven fun and easy railroad spike projects that involve welding, cutting, bending, and painting.
Are railroad spikes good for making knives?
Railroad spikes are readily available, usually for free, they are a novel item, and they can make a perfectly useable knife. However, they simply do not contain enough carbon to make a good blade. One big misunderstanding comes from railroad spikes that are marked 'HC' for 'High Carbon'.
What to do with old railroad spikes?
Using Vintage Railroad Spikes?
- They can be used as a border for a garden area or walkway with the spike heads wired or roped together and the point in the ground.
- If you are good with wire, you can wire together around a clay pot after spray painting.
- Paint each one individually to look like a person (Santa, Leprechaun, Doctor, Nurse, Train Engineer, etc.)
Where can you buy railroad spikes?
You can also buy 'em brand-spankin' new from McMaster-Carr and probably many other places, though that's not nearly as cheap. First thing to realize is that RR spikes are not a great alloy for knives or hawks.
How much are railroad spikes worth in scrap?
So, if you want to buy railroad spikes, you can get a single one for about 80 cents to a dollar.
What should I forge out of railroad spikes?
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.
What kind of steel is railroad spikes made of?
carbon steelBasically railroad spikes are made out of the following materials: Q235 carbon steel, Q 345B carbon steel, Q345D carbon steel, 45# (GB standard) carbon steel, 40Cr steel, 35CrMoA steel and 20MnTiB.
Can you weld railroad spikes?
You can weld it with 6010, 7018 or 12018 or you can weld it with SS. There is not enough mass in a Rail Road spike to justify much time and effort in preheating it.
Does a railroad spike make a good knife?
Another "high carbon" misconception involves railroad spikes. Nearly every bladesmith has made knives from railroad spikes. Railroad spikes are readily available, usually for free, they are a novel item, and they can make a perfectly useable knife. However, they simply do not contain enough carbon to make a good blade.
Is railroad track steel good for knives?
It can take a little bit of effort to get into a good shape for knife making, but once you do it's a carbon steel that's great for choppers and will definitely hold an edge. Lots of people have also gone to town grinding these things down into small anvils.
How do you cut railroad spikes?
0:002:32Drill and Tap Threads in a Railroad Spike // How-To (Ep. 19) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI use an angle grinder with a thin metal cutoff wheel to cut the end of the spike. Off. Using aMoreI use an angle grinder with a thin metal cutoff wheel to cut the end of the spike. Off. Using a reliable square I check to see if the cut is flat and squarish to the sides.
How can you tell how old a railroad spike is?
Look at the tie plate details if tie plates are found with the spike or nearby. Look for date nails on railroad ties that may be nearby.
Is a railroad spike high carbon?
There is no such thing as a “High Carbon Steel” railroad spike, but there is such thing as an “HC” “Higher Carbon” spike! This is just a term used within the railroad industry for when to use specific spikes on specific sections of tracks (HC spikes are often used in tight bends).
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.
How do you make a bottle opener from a railroad spike?
0:367:06Forging a railroad spike bottle opener - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou could just do a set down over the edge of your anvil the market. But I got one. Just for thatMoreYou could just do a set down over the edge of your anvil the market. But I got one. Just for that down till it's about a quarter inch or thicker. So just about like that.
How do you attach railroad spikes to wood?
To attach your railroad spikes, just put a bit of glue in the holes (I used epoxy) and gently tap your spikes in with a hammer if necessary. Allow the epoxy to set.
Is a railroad spike high carbon steel?
There is no such thing as a “High Carbon Steel” railroad spike, but there is such thing as an “HC” “Higher Carbon” spike! This is just a term used within the railroad industry for when to use specific spikes on specific sections of tracks (HC spikes are often used in tight bends).
How long does it take to forge a railroad spike knife?
Step One: Forging the Railroad Spike Knife Blade Depending on your hammering stamina and hand-eye coordination, this thinning process can take some time. Usually it will take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours for a beginner.
How can you tell how old a railroad spike is?
Look at the tie plate details if tie plates are found with the spike or nearby. Look for date nails on railroad ties that may be nearby.
How do you make a bottle opener from a railroad spike?
0:367:06Forging a railroad spike bottle opener - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou could just do a set down over the edge of your anvil the market. But I got one. Just for thatMoreYou could just do a set down over the edge of your anvil the market. But I got one. Just for that down till it's about a quarter inch or thicker. So just about like that.
How to make a tomahawk?
To start, heat your railroad spike and begin hammering the tapered end in on itself to create the end of the tomahawk. Then, use punches to create a hole for the handle. Working on the opposite side of the railroad spike, where the head is, heat and hammer down the head to create the blade of the tomahawk.
How to make tongs?
To make tongs, you will need two railroad spikes, a hammer, punch, chisel, forge, and an anvil or another appropriate work surface. Hammer both spikes flat and then create notches in each spike where they will join together. For a closer look at how this is done, check out the original video.
How to make a bottle opener?
To make a bottle opener you will need one railroad spike, a vice, a spring swage, a slot punch, a round punch, a hammer, a ball peen hammer, a forge, and an anvil. Begin by marking the spike off at 3 and ¼ inches from the head of the spike.
What equipment do you need to work with railroad spikes?
Working with railroad spikes requires all the basic blacksmithing equipment: a forge, anvil, hammer, tongs, and punches. For some of the projects listed below, vices and grinders are also helpful.
What are railroad spikes?
Railroad spikes are very cheap to acquire and quite forgiving for beginners looking for smaller projects. Like other crafts, there are no true rules that dictate what materials blacksmiths use. Although nontraditional, railroad spikes are common items that are reworked by blacksmiths.Why work with railroad spikes?
What tools do you need to make a blacksmith?
To summarize the process, however, you will need three railroad spikes, an anvil, forge, tongs, a vice, punches, etc.
Do railroad spikes make the best knives?
The last step is to grind down the blade, and you have a finished railroad spike knife! It is worth not ing that railroad spikes do not make the best knives, but it is a good novelty item and a fun way to practice hammering and grinding. The original video can be found here.
What happens when railroad spikes are not used?
When railroad spikes are not being used for servicing train tracks, they usually end up as scrap metal and some people having no idea on how to use them.
What is a hanging cross?
Hanging Cross by Garden Whimsies : If you’re a devout Catholic then you must have one of these – a hanging cross made solely from railroad spikes, which were arranged to form a simple cross. The bottom part is slightly extended with two more pairs of rail spikes to make it look like an authentic Christian cross.
How big is the final railroad spike?
Final Railroad Spike Tomahawk by Logan-Pearce : This project is proof that even railroad spikes can be used as crafty weapons. The blade measures 1 1/4 inches. The handle, made of railroad tie, measures at 12 inches and the head measures 7 1/4 inches.
What colors do you spray paint over?
The spray paint over the flat colors of yellow and blue also make them look more artsy but realistic.
What were the bodies of the cattle made of?
The bodies were made from river rock. It’s quite surprising that the metal frame of the cattle were able to withstand the rocks’ weight.
Where to hang a metal ring?
A metal ring is also placed above so you can hang it on your door or anywhere else in your house. Even chapels and the like can use this as décor.
Can you use a prop in a movie?
You can use this for props in a movie, a TV show, a music video, a stage play, or, for a worst-case-scenario, for self-defense (perhaps a zombie apocalypse?). Just make sure to keep it out of reach from children.
sdalcher
Ok all, I am the frugal type, my wife would even say miserly and at times cheap I have been through the blueprints several times and have found many great ideas.
hdwarner
like that word frugal , thats what i am frugal. i will search around but somewhere in my travels last year there was a site with a whole slew of ideas me myself i can only think of a tomahawk , some sort of handles one i did and liked was i cut the point off did a pinnaple twist, drilled 5/16 dia cross hole where the point was and drilled another hole perpendicular to the cross hole but about a half inch back fed a piece of 5/16 round thru the cross hole to egual lengths sticking out stuck a piece of 5/16 thru top hole only half length forge welded rods in after welding and still hot i bent to a garden tool , you know little fork tool . i forget what they are called chuck them dern railroad spikes always migrate from he railroad to my shop, how do you suppose that happens.
covforge
You can make Trolls, Door Knockers, Knives, and one thing made at most Virginia Hammer Ins Canna Lilys on the air hammer as a sales demo. For a few Ideas check out Tidewater Blacksmiths Members Gallery Hope this helps Travis
jayco
Hooks for log/towing chain..........small claw hammers for use around the house
BeaverDamForge
I live next to a railroad, so strangely enough most of my stock is 3/4 x 3/4 x 6" ... I made these candle holders from spikes. Trying to forge the flanges of the head down without making cold shuts is a challenge. Plus a lot of drawing out - hammer practice for a noob. Glass doodads can be found at Goodwill for next to nothing. Good Luck!
Aaron Gann
lol sry i know old thread but i just found out the other day that if you hammer straight down on the head it forms a thick mass of metal that when forged right looks like a pommel on a european style sword, i'm working on some double edged designs for these now :cool:
Sabre
you can make lillies,knives,daggers,you can really make anything you want!! heres a vid of making the lillie YouTube - Forging lilies from railroad spikes
