How do you shine railroad spikes?
0:002:57Multitool Demo - Rusty Railroad Spike to a High Polish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing the 40 grit we can remove all the scale and dirt from the top of the rail. Spike.MoreUsing the 40 grit we can remove all the scale and dirt from the top of the rail. Spike.
Can you harden a railroad spike?
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 long does it take to heat a railroad spike?
Heat Treating the Blade of Spike Knife 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.
How do you clean a rusty rail?
Remove Rust: Use sandpaper, a wire brush, or a wire brush drill attachment to remove all the rust and loose paint. (NOTE: Wear an approved dust mask or respirator when removing paint or spray painting.) Remove Dust: Blow off or vacuum the railings to remove as much dust as possible.
What is a super quench?
What is "Superquench"... ? A super fast quenchant. So fast it can be used to harden mild steel but too severe to use with a higher carbon content. 5 gallons water.
What grade of steel are railroad spikes made of?
It has different types on the market: dog spike and screw spike, primarily. Basically 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 heat treat a railroad spike knife?
0:036:51Railroad Spike Knife Making | How To Heat Treat Blade - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat I've done is just harden it and not anneal it and I find that there's not enough carbon in itMoreWhat I've done is just harden it and not anneal it and I find that there's not enough carbon in it that it really needs to be annealed. You can do it if you want.
How hot does a railroad spike need to be?
You must then temper the blade by heating it to the proper temperature and air-cooling it. 400 degrees is a good temperature.
What can you do with railroad spikes?
What to Do With Railroad Spikes?Wine Holders. Wine holders are a must, especially if you fancy yourself a wine connoisseur. ... Coat Hangers. As we mentioned before, keep in mind that railroad spikes are like nails. ... Letter Openers. Railroad spikes can't make sharp knives, but they make great letter openers. ... Napkin Holders.
How do you fix a rusty rail?
1:285:21How to Repair a Rusted Wrought Iron Railing | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo do that I'm going to use a hammer drill with a masonry bit I'm going to put it in the hole. And IMoreTo do that I'm going to use a hammer drill with a masonry bit I'm going to put it in the hole. And I set my depth stop because I don't want to go too deep.
What is railroad spike made of?
Spikes are made of relatively low-carbon steel, which is softer than the steel used in rail and spike mauls. This is important because when a spike is driven, it won't break into flying steel chips, and it will likely stay in place when bent.
How do you remove rust from a weld?
0:355:11HOW TO CLEAN & PREP RUSTY STEEL FOR WELDING ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm using a cleaning agent get the rust off before welding. And also get rid of some of the thrust.MoreI'm using a cleaning agent get the rust off before welding. And also get rid of some of the thrust. We would not put your boy. Around. We can t be blaster.
How to clean rusty railroad spikes?
Things you need to clean rusty railroad spikes: 1 x Large Bucket - a large bucket is needed for the process, a 5GAL one should be enough, of course depends on how many railroad spikes you plan on cleaning. A 5 gallon bucket should be good for 10-15 pieces. 1 x Medium Size Brass Scrub Brush - needed for scrubbing, any brass brush should do it.
How to clean railroad spikes with vinegar?
3. Let it sit for at least 24 hours. Recommended would be 48 hours (the best results I’ve gotten). After 24-48 hours, remove the railroad spikes and scrub them with the brass brush, applying a good amount of force, scrub them one by one.
How many pieces of railroad spikes can you clean in a 5 gallon bucket?
A 5 gallon bucket should be good for 10-15 pieces.
How many pieces of rust can you put in a 5 gallon bucket?
A 5 gallon bucket should be good for 10-15 pieces. 1 x Medium Size Brass Scrub Brush - needed for scrubbing, any brass brush should do it. White Vinegar - rust reacts to white vinegar, dissolving it. You will need enough white vinegar to cover all of the railroad spikes.
How does railroad spike work?
Normal anti-corrosive grease is far from enough to meet the corrosion demand. So you need put solid filler, antioxidant, metal deactivator, anti-rust agent into anti-corrosion grease. It can improve the anti-rust property and water resistance.
What is the anchor used in railroad spikes?
At present, anchor in railroad spikes is mainly use sulfur-anchoring agent in China. Sulfur-anchoring agent is easy to handle. But acidic electrolyte produces when HS, S2 and SO2 in sulfur-anchoring agent mixed with water. Acidic electrolyte can cause rust in railroad spikes easily. In addition to, sulfur anchor need use fire to make the sulfur. It results in some bad influence, including environmental pollution, waste of wood, damage of crops, and so on.
What is the carbon of a 1968 track spike?
Page 5-2-3: Specifications for high carbon steel track spikes 1968. Carbon not greater than 0.30%, nor greater than 0.20% copper. Page 5-2-4. Section 6a. Bending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being bent cold through 120 degrees around a pin, the diameter of which is not greater than the thickness of the spike without cracking on the outside portion of the bent portion.
How much carbon is in a spike?
I think even "high-carbon" spikes are barely .35 carbon and most are pretty much mild steel.
Does superquench make steel harder than oil?
Im not sure of what they RC at, but the "Superquench" does make them harder than water or oil, if my testing method is accurate.............. one quenched in Super quench can scratch one from either water or oil, not very scientific, but was more of a curiosity thing anyway as they are just novelty items, if I remember it I will take one to a shop I order steel from and have them rockwell for me
Can you use a stone on RC 60?
Only if you want it to be virtually unsharpenable with hand tools, and prone to chipping along the edge. If you've never had the pleasure of working on something well over RC 60 with a stone, it's a treat!
What does HC mean on railroad spikes?
The HC stamped on the heads of the railroad spikes only means that they are high carbon as far as railroad spikes are concerned. They are actually made from medium carbon steel and that barely. They are marginal, at best, for making knives from. I would water quench and temper at about 350°. I don't know what your finances are like but Admiral Steel is up there in Chi Town and you could see about getting some of their 1075/1080 or 5160. Either will make a much better blade. Google them up, they have an online store and shipping should be next to nothing.
What does HC mean on spikes?
Take a look at the heads of the spikes. Some will have HC on them, this means High Carbon and that means they are more useful. It's not the BEST steel, but at least look for it on the heads.Ones marked MC for Medium Carbon, will not harden as well and therefor not hold an edge as well.
Is 1075 a good starter steel?
1075 is a good starter steel. It's simple and inexpensive. Learn how to heat treat the different 10xx steels.
Can railroad spikes cause irritation?
May cause irritation. Don't get a railroad spike in the eye.
Is it trespassing to pick up a railroad spike?
Just as a caution in case someone is around who feels like being picky, going down the railroad right of way and picking up the odd railroad spike is looked on as trespassing and theft in some circles. Where I used to live in Virginia the railroad took up an old spur and posted their piles of old ties asking people to report anyone removing ties or spikes from the old rail bed.
What is used to treat railroad ties?
Wooden railroad ties are treated with toxic and non-toxic preservatives, while some of them are not treated at all. One of the most used preservatives to treat the wood railroad ties against rotting, insect infestation and few other timber diseases, is Creosote.
What are the toxic preservatives used to treat railroad ties?
Some of the other toxic preservatives used to treat railroad ties are pentachlorophenol and chromated copper arsenate . As mentioned above, there are few non-toxic treatments for railroad ties, which are copper azole or micronized copper.
What kind of wood is used to make railroad ties?
There are two types of wood used for making the railroad ties, softwood and hardwood. Softwood railroad ties are easier to be produced, cheaper and lighter, largely available but also more susceptible to wear. Examples of softwood used to make railroad ties are douglas fir and juniper.
How long does a railroad tie last?
If a piece of hardwood railroad tie is treated, it can last for over 30 years, out surviving the other materials used for this purpose. It is environmentally friendly. Performs great under heavy weight of a train, trepidation which simply makes it a great material for this purpose.
What are railroad ties made of?
Railroad ties can be made out of wood, prestressed concrete, stone, steel or plastics. The most widely used material for railroad ties is wood, with a market share of over 93% in the United States.
Is railroad ties toxic?
Wooden railroad ties are treated with toxic and non-toxic preservatives, while some of them are not treated at all.
Can railroad ties be treated with creosote?
That’s why Creosote and few other preservatives play a huge role in treating the railroad ties.
Why do we need railroad ties?
In order to avoid potentially dangerous situations and maintain a neat and orderly appearance , it is necessary to secure old railroad ...
How far away should you drill holes in railroad tie?
Drill holes about a foot away from the ends into each railroad tie. Drill an additional hole or two in the center of each tie if it is longer than 4 feet.
Where do railroad tie ties go?
For railroad tie retaining walls or taller raised beds, additional reinforcement in the form of vertically-oriented ties in the front of the wall at joints and corners or deadmen, anchors halfway up the wall that extend back from the wall and have another timber attached that is oriented parallel to the wall.
How deep should a trench be for railroad ties?
Dig a trench deep enough to accommodate between about a third to a half of the timber's height if laying just one row of ties.
Can railroad ties be soaked in creosote?
Do not use old railroad ties that may have been soaked in creosote, as this can harm nearby plants, or other harmful old preservatives. Also avoid railroad ties or timbers that could be infested by termites.
How much does a rail spike cost?
Basically, unless you’re buying brand new rail spikes that are certified and you also buy the standard that they were manufactured to (usually around $40-$50), it’s almost impossible to know exactly what’s in them. Unless you have a metallurgist buddy, that is.
What are railroad spikes made of?
So what about railroad spikes? Railroad spikes are made out of carbon steel and are generally divided into three classes: low carbon, higher carbon and structural steel. Note that it’s higher carbon and not high carbon. The carbon level isn’t all that high, comparatively speaking. Let’s go over what’s usually in a railroad spike and why, ...
Is 1045 steel heat treatable?
It’s a “workhorse” steel – it’s tough and can handle a load well. That’s why it’s commonly seen in applications like heavy duty gears and shafts. You won’t see it used for cutting tools, since it won’t hold an edge that well. Rail spikes usually aren’t an exact equivalent though.
What is the carbon content of a rail spike?
Rail Spike Composition. That’s why a rail spike that’s labeled HC (higher carbon) will only have about 0.4% carbon. That’s about the rough equivalent of a 1045 steel. The low carbon spikes are essentially mild steel. 1045 is heat treatable. It’s a “workhorse” steel – it’s tough and can handle a load well.
How many categories of track spikes are there?
This is where it states that there are 3 general categories of track spike.
How to chop up a cut off wheel?
Abrasive cutoff wheels are a great way to chop them up, just don’t let it get red hot. Lift the disc off the cut intermittently to let it cool down if you’re seeing a lot of blue developing on the metal. Grinding is a great way to shape and work with this material too.
How to keep metal from losing heat?
The way you usually accomplish that is by doing your heat treating in a furnace. When your workpiece is is up to temp, turn off the furnace but keep the door closed. This will prevent the metal from losing heat quickly, and it will take several hours to cool down.