[TheForge] Suggestions needed for scroungeable steel

Tue Nov 18 17:42:00 2003

I haven't look for scrap (taken out of service) rail for awhile so I don't
know if it has become hard to come by or not.  It used to be easy to find
when I lived in the midwest.  Mainline rail most of which is in the range of
133 pound rail (133 pounds per yard) would not be easy to pull up and handle
by yourself.  (or even with several others to help).  40 feet would be close
to a ton, tough to get in the back of the pickup.

There remains a strong market for used rail, since in is used as feed stock
for making of  "Tee" type steel fence posts.  Still I would think you could
find it in most markets.  It is one of the best scrap steels out there
usefull for many things.

Dave Smucker

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Suggestions needed for scroungeable steel

> I built a small power hammer some years ago from a piece of rail and a
> linear slide that I had.  Unfortuneatley the slide was not up to the
> task.    The only caveat that I have for rail, is that it is not easy to
> scrounge, at least around here.  I spent a lot of time looking when I
> first started years ago, trying to make the rail anvil everyone
> inevitably gets steered to somehow.    Most scrap yards said they would
> not deal with rail, claiming federal regulations or some such.  The
> theory being that they couldn't accept or sell it since it would
> encourage people to pull it up for the money.    There was one yard that
> did deal in it that everyone pointed me to.  They were willing to sell
> it in 40 foot lengths only.   So it may not be the best item if you are
> looking to  provide plans to the world.   My experiences may be
> unique.   I know in the dozen or so years since then I have come upon
> many short lengths at estate sales and such and keep bringing them home,
> so it is out there.
>
> Charles
>
> Bruce Freeman wrote:
>
> >Dave,
> >Damned good idea.  Thanks.  That's exactly the kind of inspiration I
> >was looking for.  Don't know why I didn't think of it myself!  (Probably
> >because I was thinking "round or square or MAYBE octagonal"!)
> >Bruce
> >
> >
> >
> >>>>[email protected] 11/18/2003 11:58:11 AM >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >
> >Bruce,
> >
> >Don't know how you are thinking of guiding the ram but how about
> >cutting
> >(burning) the rail head from the required length of railroad rail.
> >
> >
>
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