![]() While another example material, 1075 (AISI1075) (UNSG10750) is described as “high carbon steel” and contains a carbon content of 0.70-0.80% For example- 1045, a steel that is widely recognized as a medium carbon steel, (AISI1045 describes it as “Medium Carbon steel”) has a carbon content of 0.420-0.50%. 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”. 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). 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. 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”. 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. Forging Railroad Spike Tongs for Blacksmithing.Blacksmithing Railroad Spike Tongs Simplified Version.Forging Rail Spike Tongs from Old Nippers.Blacksmithing tools - Flat nib tongs forged of two railroad spikes.Poor Man's Forged Bolt or RR Spike Tongs From Harbor Freight Long Handled Pliers.Blacksmithing tools - Railroad spike bolt tongs.Forge a Medieval Rondel out of a Railroad spike.Standard Specification for Steel Track Spikes. Railroad spikes can be gathered from old tracks, purchased in antique shops or purchased from train enthusiasts, and they are turned into a variety of useful and creative tools.ĪSTM A65-01. Railroad spikes, which have been used on railroad tracks for more than 100 years, are collector's items for train enthusiasts and historians. ![]() One such object that you may not have thought much about is the railroad spike. Many people enjoy taking uncommon objects and making practical tools out of them. ![]() (The Tuyere, newsletter of the Illinois Valey Blacksmith Association) With this in mind, be aware of a higher carbon content and work with the material accordingly. The spikes are barely heat treatable and won't hold an edge very long. 80% that we would usually call high carbon. HC on a railroad spike does not necessarily mean high carbon, it may mean highway crossing, and these spikes need to be stronger for this part of the track. In seasoned oak, another experimenter needed 4,281 pounds. Early experiments showed that pulling out a 9/16″ × 9/16″ spike driven 4¼" inches into dry cedar required on average a force of 857 pounds. A spike with the wedge driven across the grain will have about twice as much holding power as one driven with the grain. Its square cross section gives a railroad spike much higher holding strength than a fastener having the same amount of metal but a circular cross section has roughly speaking, about 50% more. The wedge is driven into the tie across the grain, that is, parallel to the track. ![]() The spikes used to fasten T-shaped railroad track to wooden ties have an L-shaped head and a square shank.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |