01tundra Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I was given a few old RR spikes that I'd like to make steak turners out of. They are still solid, but do have their share of surface rust. Think I should throw them in the electrolytic bath to remove all of the rust, or hit them with a wire brush to remove most of the surface rust, or just throw them in the forge and start hammering? Another question in general, I sometimes knock the rust off a piece of steel with a wire brush prior to forging and other times I do not, I can't really say that I've ever noticed a difference in the end product. Does the rust usually come of with the scale, or does it get hammered into the metal and cause potential issues? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Good Morning, The rust is a non-issue. When the piece is heated to a red or higher, the rust de-bonds, leaving only your parent material. Simple, no Fuss. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01tundra Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Thanks for the info Neil, you saved me a lot of unnecessary work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottMitUns Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Same as Swedefiddle. I forge mine as is and they come out fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Rust = Scale they are both oxides of iron (Ferrous and Ferric) and in fact scale can be converted to red rust by oxidizing it. For nasty pieces I like to heat them up to low red in the propane forge and then slam them on the anvil and go over them with a butcher block brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01tundra Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 I finally decided to try forging a RR spike steak turner this evening when I got home, as soon as I got it finished and walked in the house the wifey asked me to go out and check on the steaks.....straight from the anvil to work and it does great - win (although I did make an absolute mess out of the handle twist.....need more practice in that department obviously...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Absolute Mess??? NAHHH That is exactly how I intended to have it look!!!! Now if you want a real Test, Forge/Upset it back to what it was and Start Again!! NOT!!!! You have just learned what happens when you twist with NOT an even heat. Uneven Heat = Uneven Twist. It is not a problem, just hard to duplicate. If everything looked the same you would be a Machine. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I use heaps of rail spikes and rust is not a major problem. Be careful though, as hot bits of rust/scale like to jump up and land between your fingers, specially when you're using a short handled club hammer. Can be quite uncomfortable. Nice steak turner. Uneven twist doesn't take anything away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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