I have made 100's and 100's of these things and when properly heat treated, they aren't all that bad, considering what they are. However, we refer to them as high carbon, they are not within the range of steels known as high carbon or hypereutectoid according to the steel industry standards, and have not been since at least 1926, when most track spikes were previously manufactured from wrought iron."" The consequences for the industry would be too great to consider. Abent spike still holds the rail while a fractured spike would not. After all, brittle spikes would not be desirable as a track spike. "Because of the bending tests required, the carbon content will not be greater than 0.30%. When copper is specified, the letters "CU" shall be added."Īdditionally included in a fax to Mike Blue by the gentleman at Wellington industries, a division of Sheffield Steel: Marking: A letter or brand indicating manufacturer and also the letters "HC" indicating high carbon, shall be pressed on the head of each spike while it is being formed. Thickness of the spike without cracking on the outside portion of the bent port Through 120 degrees around a pin, the diameter of which is not greater than the G properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being bent cold Reater than 0.30%, nor greater than 0.20% copper. 2-3: Specifications for high carbon steel track spikes 1968. S specified, the letters "CU" shall be added. A letter or brand indicating the manufacturer shĪll be pressed on the head of each spike while it is being formed. T cold through 180 degrees flat on itself without cracking on the outside portio "A low carbon track spike will not contain greater than 0.12% carbonīending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being ben Two sizes of track spike are identified, one of 5/8 inch square shaft and Two classes of track spikes are given specifications, both low carbon and high cĪrbon. Original document, 1926, revised last in 1968 I like the look of the scale left over and since it was for me I decided to keep it."American Railway Engineering Association's Specifications for Soft-Steel Track Spikes. Rough shape after forging cleaned up w/ angle grinder:Īfter heat treatment (warm water quench) fitting the handle (curly maple). Don't know if I should call it a short sword or a long knife. The blade ended up being about 1/4in under 12in. The first thing I wanted to do was fix the warped looking head, but after heating it in my forge one strike with the hammer and it popped clean off! At this point I had a solid bar of steel so I decided to make the longest railroad spike knife I could possible make. Surprised by the find I took it home with me and wanted to make something unique out of it. This last year I stumbled upon a very unique railroad spike that had a small warped head and was about 1.25-1.5 inches longer then a normal spike. Needless to say every year I take back 10-15 spikes that are in decent shape. SO anyways, when they replace the railroad spikes on the tracks they toss the old ones to the side and since almost nobody has access except by boat, thousands of old rail road spikes litter the sides of the track. (We do a 2 1/2 day float and from the time we put in to the time we take out we are completely cut off from the world). The river has a very active railroad that runs along it, and with the huge canyon walls on both sides there is very limited access. Every summer I go fly fishing on the Deschutes River in OR.
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