sstreckfuss

While dry ice blasting might be cost prohbitive to get into I've been readin about Bicarbonate of Soda blasting, cleans up with a garden hose...it might do what you need plus less cleanup than glass bead... Heres a link to eastwoods setup...

Is it the piece that goes between the rail and the track to distribute the load from rail to track? Sounds like it to me. Look like this? If so I call it a tie plate, which is not listed in that blueprint under that name...might have to wait for glenn to clarify...

Second section of this blueprint should have what you need.

For those curious what a flypress is and how it is used in blacksmithing. Here is a sample video of a dvd that tells about it, the sample is 36MBs but gives you a good idea of what it is about and how nice it would be to have one.

I bought one from Diamondback Ironworks who also sells on ebay. I think his are superior in many regards, his site has alot of general gas forge information for you to read as well that might help with your decision. Oh and welcome to the boards...

Be careful with those RPMs on your setup, if that abrasive disk comes apart it could kill you, at least seriously maim you. I have a ridgid brand one at it works great but its more of a torque cutting tool than a speed cutting tool.

I bought one recently too more or less to try out the design, I will let you know my impressions when I get around to using it...

Hello from St. Louis! Whereabouts in the Ozarks you hail from??

I have a buddy who made his top out of metal impregnated carbon strips from electric trains. He scratch starts from he shoes, doesn't need to attach a ground clamp to his work piece and the weld won't stick to it. Totally impractical for most people but it is different, but so is my friend (on both counts).

You would think but the two cities have another thing in common. Trains! To be specific Light Rail Trains made by Siemens Transportation Systems. The downtown people mover variants, I forget what they call it there in Portland (Max?). I recently quit Siemens and now work for the customer here in St. Louis, If I were ever to relocate again it would be to the Portland area...:cool:

Nice work!

Hello. I lived in Oregon for a year, extended business trip, I was in Gresham. I loved the outdoors and all the things to do around there, I did miss the sun though.:rolleyes:

I started playing with the MIG at work on breaks and such and eventually bought a millermatic 180 because I liked it so much, it is what got me interested in blacksmithing to be honest. That and a life long love affair with all things old....

I got Armour from the battle of Wisby which is kinda blacksmith related and my wife hooked me up with a Diamandback Ironworks two burner blacksmith forge .

I posted this elsewhere but here it is again: Specs for new rail: Standard rail steel: .74 to.86% Carbon, .75 to 1.25% Manganese, .10 to .60% Silicon Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310 or 370 dependant of grade ordered. Low Alloy Rail Steel .72 to .82% Carbon, .80 to 1.10% Manganese, .25 to .40& Chromium, .10 to .50% Silicon Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310, 325, or 370 dependant of grade ordered. The head may or not be hardened depending on the piece of track you have. Hardened head rail is used in heavy curve applications, or so I am told.

Hi from mideast Missouri!

I get it, I have 2 issues so far!

I am curious about wrapping a knife handle in leather...suggestions?

I have only been married 4 years but have never taken the ring off. I work 5 days a week on high voltage electric, 860 vdc, I am relegated to shop welder when it is something quick and non-structural (I am not certified). So far the ring has never had a electrical short but has suffered some welding slag with was buffed out by the place I bought the ring...I do thing it adds a degree of increased risk for ripping a finger off, getting a voltage arc etc... but so does working in the field I choose. I am not scared but do respect this choice.

I have done it 2 or 3 times over the years, the last time while welding galvanized which made my stomach sick as well. I haven't found anything to ease the suffering except good old fashioned sleep.

I like it! Primitive in a very very cool way....

Union missouri is about an hour away from my house. Do me a favor, drop me a PM whenever you decide to attend the Ozark school. It is on my list of things to do as well maybe we can go at the same time, it would be kind of cool to post our progress on this forum from school to beyond...

Hey TBarm, Well Met, I live south of St. Louis in Imperial MO. I am aspiring to begin blacksmithing, in fact I should have my gas forge up and running before Christmas! Scott

It was likely one of the books downloadable from this site.

Blacksmiths Association of Missouri Whereabouts in Missouri are you? I am south of St. Louis.