[TheForge] Hardy questions

David E. Smucker davesmucker at hotmail.com
Wed Nov 24 17:16:15 EST 2004 

Chris,  Another thing -- I have never seen rail that came from the mill that 
had grind marks -- possible but I am not aware of it.  More likely reground 
in the field -- but then why not used?  Remove maybe because of some other 
defect that was detected at the same time as grinding.  Both Sperry and the 
AAR (Association of American Railroads) built and my still be building rail 
inspection equipment to look for defects in rail that is in service.  If 
found the rail would be remove, rather than risk a failure and derailment. 
(Long story but my Dad worked for the AAR in their research labs in Chicago 
for 30 plus years.)

Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Kilpatrick" <crimsonkil at lycos.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hardy questions


    This rail never saw service, it still has the finishing grinding marks 
on the rail top.  When I sliced it through, I could see a line about 5/16 
below the surface, that went across the face of the of my cut.  It could 
just be an illusion of the saw;  I have symetrical undulations across the 
web of this same rail from my saw, so that is a possibility, but the rail 
head piece is more abrupt; there is an actual line I can see.  Work 
hardening as I understand it is like heat treating in that it decreases over 
depth as opposed to a visible, precise, razor fine line.

-Chris K.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David E. Smucker" <davesmucker at hotmail.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hardy questions
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 11:40:27 -0500

>
> Chris,  Thinking some more about your question about "something welded to
> top".  Can you see the line on both sides of the rail?  The action of the
> wheel flange will cause the head of the rail to roll to the inside.  This 
> is
> especially true on the outside rail from a curve.  Some railroads had or
> have special equipment to grind this cold working off of the rail from 
> time
> to time.  This is also why rail would be re-laid (still is) to use the 
> other
> side of the rail head as the inside or flange side of the rail.  Over it's
> service life your rail may well have seen service as both the right hand 
> and
> left hand rail.
>
> Dave
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Chris Kilpatrick" <crimsonkil at lycos.com>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 9:40 AM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hardy questions
>
>
> My guestimations had it at 128#/yard, so 133# is not out of the question.
> it is 7+" tall and the foot is 6" wide and the railhead is 2 3/4" wide.
>
> -Chris K.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David E. Smucker" <davesmucker at hotmail.com>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hardy questions
> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 21:17:13 -0500
>
> >
> > 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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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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