Railroad spikes: what type of steel?

Mahiro Shukosa · Post by **Mahiro Shukosa** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 1:16 am

Hello all. I recently aqquired a dozen or so railroad spikes and other assorted fittings. I was just wondering what type of steel this was, and if it was suitable for making anything of interest. Thanks.

M.S.

anhur-set · Post by **anhur-set** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 5:02 am

If it's a modern spike, it will be made of extremely low grade steel (consistency would be around a low grade/bad hot rolled), if it's an old spike it's cast iron.

SET

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But why shall I say more? To-day I wear these chains, and am here!
To-morrow I shall be fetterless!- but where?

Brandr hinn Rusli · Post by **Brandr hinn Rusli** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 9:10 am

Rail road spikes come in widely differing steels depending age. Best bet is to do a spark test on it to see the general class you are in (low,medium, high carbon). You might even have cast iron.

Smiths seem to like making snakes out of them, as well as knives, and I even heard of a crazy smith (who will remain unnamed) who made a set of spurs from them.

Brandr hinn Rusli

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 1:21 pm

Old spikes may be *wrought iron* but not *cast iron* cast iron can't be hammered!

Modern spikes stamped "HC" on the top are a medium-low carbon steel (around 40 points at best) and are designed to be a bit stronger/tougher for the modern spike driving machines. Older ones have even less carbon.

Use superquench on the spikes if you try to harden them!

Thomas

Mahiro Shukosa · Post by **Mahiro Shukosa** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 3:20 pm

Hmmm, I do not know exactly how old they are, but they were removed from existing tracks along a fairly old railbed. Utilzing the spark test, or any other, is there a definitive way to check if they are wrought iron? I would be ecstatic if they were W.I.

M.S.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 4:44 pm

If it is heavily rusted you can sometimes see the pattern of the ferrous silicate inclusions; but remember we're talking 100+ years---the rail has been changed out several times. (Unless you find massive trees growing in the middle of the track and *no* sign of rr ties associated with the rail, its unlikely they are WI) The WI spikes I find are eroding out of the banks along the roadbed where they were tossed when the re-did the rails long ago.

From "Formulas for Profit", Bennett, copyright 1939, 4th printing

"To identify iron from steel"
"Mix 5 drops nitric acid with 10 drops H2O", (remember acid into water
*NEVER* water into acid),"File a clean spot and place a drop on it. If
it is steel it will turn black immediatly. If it is wrought iron or
malleable iron it will stay bright for a considerable length of time."

Thomas

Mahiro Shukosa · Post by **Mahiro Shukosa** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 11:19 pm

Ahhh, they have "W.C." stamped on the heads. Would this indicate they are modern?

M.S.

anhur-set · Post by **anhur-set** » Fri Mar 02, 2001 6:07 am

Old spikes may be *wrought iron* but not *cast iron*

Yes your right, I had a momentary slip of the brain, I stand corrected.

SET

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But why shall I say more? To-day I wear these chains, and am here!
To-morrow I shall be fetterless!- but where?

[This message has been edited by anhur-set (edited 03-02-2001).]

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Fri Mar 02, 2001 1:59 pm

The question is can you drive a 6" rain road spike into a two by four with your...ehem, anyway.....

Armourkris · Post by **Armourkris** » Fri Mar 02, 2001 3:35 pm

railroad spikes eh?
i'm not sure what all you can use em for, but i got about a dozen of em in a bucket, turned a few of them into simple planishing stakes. they work pretty good for that, only problem is if your planishing something heavily dished, not always enough clearance.

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What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: