Howdy all, just a small time WY cowboy looking for advise from yall. New to this forum, found it trying to look up heat treating info.
A long time ago, needing a tap with none around to chase some threads a man showed me how to cut two grooves in a bolt, taper the leading edge, heat it red with a torch and cool it in motor oil. It worked, but doing some reading on this site brings up more questions.
I have a small pile of old railroad spikes, might be from the 1800's. Not sure which exact metal they are but I need/want to make them harder. I am using them in a homemade harrow to bust up the washboard bumps in my gravel road. They are about 3/4" square, maybe 8" long and have a bit of surface rust.
I can get some canola oil and all I have to heat them with is an oxy/acetolene rose bud torch. Should I be heat treating them or should I peen them with a hammer?