Do you know you can forge a fantastic knife from the railroad spike? For blacksmiths, one outstanding feature is the ability to recreate metallic structures. A railroad spike can be useful in making the best knives.
Creating a knife from a railroad spike is not a difficult task. It is even more comfortable if you know the precise steps to follow. Here are easy steps that will successfully put you through the procedures of forging a railroad spike knife.
Essentials
For you to have a successful blacksmithing project, it is essential to have all the necessary tools available. The tools required for forging a railroad spike knife include;
Instructions on How to Forge a Railroad Spike Knife
Step 1: Gather Your Tools and Materials
The first step in most blacksmithing processes is to have everything you need around. Arrange all the tools and materials that you would need accordingly. Also, ensure that you keep them in close proximity.
Step 2: Form The Handle
Surprisingly, the first part you would form is the handle. This sequence is due to the nature of the spike itself. Heat the railroad spike from the head up to the middle until it becomes red hot. Use your spike and bench vise to pull and twist the spike’s head until you have your desired handle shape.
Step 3: Hammer Out The Tip
Now, it’s time to craft the tip that will form the edge of the knife. To achieve this, you have to heat the tip again. After this, hammer out the four sides until you have a pointed end.
Step 4: Shape the Blade
At this stage, give the knife the shape you want it to take. Hold the spike against a flat surface. Hammer the side that would form the edge until you have a flat back. Bevel the blade until you have a leveled knife.
Pro Tip
The shape of the blade is influential for the final result when forging a Railroad Spike Knife
Step 5: Curve the Holder
After shaping the blade, it might appear like you are through, but you are not. Heat the handle to allow flexibility. You then curve the blade part of the knife until the edge faces upwards.
Step 6: Grinding
Now! It’s time to make use of your angle grinder. You have the opportunity to grind away anything that pleases you at this stage. During this stage, you are refining your blade. Likewise, the grinding process should help you clean up and remove all the scales on edge.
Step 7: Fine-Tune Your Work
At this stage, you are already coming to the end of the project, mainly if you carry out your grinding correctly. This process is the stage you heat-treat and temper the blades of the knife. You carry out this process by first heating it in the forge.
Quick Steps
- Firstly, carry out heat treating and tempering in the forge. Only stop heating the knife when you observe a red/orange coloration of the metal.
- Quench the metal in oil or water.
- Keep the blade at a temperature of 300-400℃ for about an hour.
- Let it cool and work on the edges to make it sharp.
Note: Sharpening, tempering, and heat treating are necessary blacksmithing processes. There are various ways of carrying it out; therefore, you should use the best method suitable for you.
Step 8: Finishing
Now, you are ready to clean up your work. The finishing is subjected to what you want and what you intend to create. However, the general aim of your finishing is to clean, polish, and sharpen your knife. These sequences of steps will give your edges the overall outlook that you want.
FAQs on How to Forge a Railroad Spike Knife
Question
What is a railroad spike?
A railroad spike is a special kind of nail. It is primarily useful in the railway system for fastening and tightening due to its high strength. The railroad spike is most valuable for attaching rail tracks. Due to the nature of its metal, railroad spikes can be made into knives, bottle openers, and so on.
Question
Are railroad spikes hardened steel?
Yes, railroad spikes are hardened steel. Railroad spikes are usually from carbon steel, which are hardened steels. This carbon steel can be divided into three, which are low carbon steel, high carbon steel, and structural carbon steel. The nature of the steel explains why you can recreate it into several other useful materials.
Question
Is it legal to pick railroad spikes?
In most parts of the world, it is illegal to pick one such. It is considered theft regardless of if it is a scrap. Therefore, it is best to save yourself the troubles by not attempting to pick railroad spikes without permission from appropriate authorities.
Question
Can I buy railroad spikes as scrap?
Now, this is a better alternative to just picking railroad spikes from a facility. Even the government facilities sell outdated or used rail spikes online. Therefore, it is better to get from these legal sources. So, yes, you can get to buy railroad spikes from legal quarters.
Video
Warnings
Working in the blacksmith’s shop requires caution. It would be best if you took some precautions while forging a railroad spike knife. Here are some useful warnings and precautions that can benefit you during the railroad spike knife forge.
- Ensure that you put on your safety gears while forging a railroad spike knife
- Hammer carefully while shaping the blade of the knife for you to have a perfect shape.
- Head the metal at an appropriate temperature and observe color changes.
- Do not touch hot metal with your bare hands or any other parts of the body to avoid burns.
References
1. https://www.instructables.com/id/forged-knife-from-a-railroad-spike/
2. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-railroad-spike-knife/
3. https://gallivantingcraftsman.com/how-much-are-railroad-spikes-worth/
5. https://makeitfrommetal.com/what-kind-of-metal-are-railroad-spikes-made-from/
6. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/illegal-to-posses-old-railroad-track-pieces.1110740/