[TheForge] Hardy questions

[David E. Smucker]

Most rail is close to 1080 with about 1 % mag.  By the very nature of it's 
service requirements rail is very good stuff.  It makes great tools --  
hammers, cutting tools, woodworking tools, almost anything you would make 
out of a 1060 to a 1095 steel if buying stock new.  Not sure about you 
comment about the formation at the top of the rail other than work 
hardening.  How heavy is your section?  Rail is measure in weight per yard. 
(not weight per foot)  This is almost always noted on the side of the rail 
along with the year of manufacture.  I just pick up some scrap rail that was 
85 pounds per yard made in 1928.  This is small rail for normal railroad 
use -- most main line track being in the range of 133 pounds per yard.  Rail 
was often re-laid -- moved from mainline service to siding or yard use to 
get more life out of it.  Some rail is weld repaired when used in areas like 
switch frogs but not over longer lengths that I know of.

You can use rail for lots of things -- just know that it is high carbon --  
don't quench it unless you want it very hard.  For things other than tools I 
would use mild steel and save my rail road rail for tooling.

Dave Smucker
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Kilpatrick" <crimsonkil at lycos.com>
To: "SCA Metalsmiths" <ekmetalsmiths at yahoogroups.com>; 
<theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:10 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Hardy questions


Hi folks,
     Just got a bandsaw for Christmas (early, I know) I have been reducing 
some railroad rail into hardy sized pieces, have several questions:
     First, it appears as if the rail had a 1/4 piece welded to the top of 
the rail (there is a clear line where this section stops)  Are appearancess 
deceiving?
     Secondly, I have come up with plans for spring fuller dies as follows: 
flatter dies, drawing dies, vee dies, veining dies, various round and square 
dies.  I also have come up with bending forks, rivet bottom tools, several 
small stake anvils.  Any suggestions on what other tooling UI can make from 
RR rail?
     By the way, I have no power hammer, so all suggestions need to be 
slanted to hand hammering.

thanks in advance,

Chris K.

It is I who formed the blacksmith,
who fans the flame into a fire and
fashions a weapon fit for it's work.

-- 
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