darksaber Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Today in spite of the rain was a good day for me and my blacksmithing. I picked up some bolts for my forge Saturday evening but haven't got them in yet. Anyway on with the story... I was on my way home from work and had to go a slightly different way due to flooded roads in the area and ran across some guys replacing railroad ties on a stretch of track. I debated on whether to turn around and go back and talk to them and the next thing I knew I had made a U-turn and was pulling off the road at the tracks. I got out and talked to the gentleman in charge and told him what I was doing and asked politely what they do with the old spikes. He told me they usually take them home and use them as is, so I asked if he minded if I gathered a few cause the ones I got from the scrapyard were all but gone, and hadn't seen anymore the past few times I've been. He told me not only that I could but where there was a large pile of them and even tossed me a bucket to put them in . All in all I ended up with about 75 lbs of spikes, mud over the entire bucket and most of the spikes as well as mud on my work clothes and a big huge smile. The workers he had working for him probably thought I was crazy going up the tracks picking up muddy spikes and carrying a muddy bucket in the middle of a light drizzle wearing khakis and a button up shirt. Filled the bucket up told the guys thanks and was told some more ideas I could do with spikes and if I ever saw them again feel free to stop and chat. Need to make up a few things from them and toss them in my vehicle to give him if I ever see him again. Add this to some of the books I got this weekend and I have had a pretty good last few days. Picked up an older book on tools, modern (circa 1980) and antiques, a book on casting metal, and a book on engineering materials with a large section on heat treating and another section devoted to how to make iron and steel. Plenty of reading material and ideas to keep me busy for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Sounds great, I am glad that you had a great day. Don't forget to post some pictures. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chyancarrek Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Now thats a great day. Good on ya for making that U-turn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragons lair Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Hay Sam, Glad you found sompthing in all this rain. My neighbor is supposed to bring me some more from his job on the RR. Gave Mark some at the meeting hope to have more next mounth. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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