That's a pretty neat cross Lary, I wouldn't stop with the idea there though. I'd call it a successful "proof of concept" piece and start thinking of more applications to try with the technique. 

Norrlander: The "Dogs head" spike is attractive as it is but that's probably because I've never seen one like it.

That is a nice load of spikes, lots of possibilities in that box. You betcha!

Frosty The Lucky.

On 5/14/2021 at 1:44 AM, Michael said:

I posted this back in 2015 on another RR spike thread 245.04 kB · 0 downloads

With proper credit to the Kootenay Blacksmiths Association.  I keep a print of this out in the smithy for inspiration

I too have kept this photo for inspiration for a couple of reasons. One is that I have an unlimited number of rail spikes to work with, and the other is that it reminds me of our visit some years ago to Kootenay Forge in Canada. They were great people there and invited me into the workshop to watch the power hammer in operation and see their tumbler techniques for polishing finished pieces. Bought a couple of pieces to bring home to Australia.

I have forged a few of the items in this photo but many I would like to try. The dragonfly is impressive and I like the toast fork with the knot.

Haven't been on the forum for a while as I have not been well, but hope to get back into forging soon. Photos like this make me hope for a fast recovery. 

9 hours ago, ausfire said:

hope for a fast recovery. 

I will ring my anvil three times to send you healing light and a wish for your fast complete recovery.

Thank you, sir.

  I use them to make lightning bolts.  This one was for a sculpture of Hḗphaistos.  I never did finish it....

 

Nodebt, did you cut the sections and then twist them to get the offset?

By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

That’s pretty sweet looking Scott! 

3 hours ago, Nodebt said:

lightning bolts. 

 

Love it Scott. Was thinking how you might have made it.. thinking welded sections. Please let us know. 

  Yes, they are welded.  I just cut off the heads and tips on the bandsaw and tacked them together.  I made 25 of them for a guy who wanted them for a security fence.

Electrified?

Even if not it would imply it by the look. 

Lol

 

How many mines does it take to make a minefield? One sign saying minefield.

BGD,,

In addition to 2 or more mines you will have to provide a field.

With apologies,

SLAG.

 

Just a thought,

if your mine field happens to be out in the open ocean your also gonna need a buoy to hold your minefield sign 

or a really really tall post to mount it on, 

When I visited the High Site for the Alma Radio Astronomy project we were warned about possible mine fields.  I chose to hike the opposite direction(s) for my exercise!

The stray shop cats have created a strategically placed mine field around my shop… 

9 hours ago, JHCC said:

Electrified?

  I can't say.  All he said was "security fence" and as he seemed a bit of a spook I didn't bother agitating him with questions.  Twas many years ago. I hope they did not wind up as punji sticks....

My second attempt at a trivet made from spikes.

 

Good job 

Very nice!

nice!

 

That is very nice.

I would only have one suggestion, and that is to make the initial curls of the scrolls more round rather than bending them over so abruptly. If you have an oxyfuel torch, you might want to try spot-heating them and re-rounding them with a pair of scrolling tongs.

 

i agree, you could heat them with a torch and drive, gently, a tapered round punch or drift thru the eye and use that as a mandrel to shape them with a small hammer or scrolling tongs.

Nice trivet Lary, well done. I agree, truing up the scrolls would make it more attractive. Then again a customer wanting something more rough hewn might disagree. 

Frosty The Lucky.