Frank B Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I have been forging railroad spikes into garden trowels for years. I think this is my best version to date and with the curved handle it sits nicely in your hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAP of JEEP Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Very nice. My wife has been bugging me to make her of these. I've never tried one, but they sure look much more rugged than the ones we always get at the home stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Nice piece. Thanks for makin my list of things to make longer :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Quade Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I really like the look of these tools and while i have seen them before this one looks different. Did you draw out the spike into a thinner stock which you used to make the handle or did you just have an odd sized spike to start with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 18 hours ago, Frank B said: I have been forging railroad spikes into garden trowels for years. I think this is my best version to date and with the curved handle it sits nicely in your hand. Nice looking job, may I make a suggestion, I think an extra quarter twist on the handle before drawing out the blade would make it more comfortable a fit for fingers to grip, what do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank B Posted July 12, 2016 Author Share Posted July 12, 2016 I have tried 1/2 3/4 and full twist and do make them that way sometimes, but I like the way my fingers lay on the handle with a 1/2 twist. Of course if a customer ask, I will make it however they like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Way to go Frank, Most of my customers seemed to have slimmer fingers than I have for some reason, and the ladies like a smooth edge. Keep the clients happy, even do a sample twist in the opposite direction to one shown for the lefties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobasaurus Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Looks great, I might have to try making one. Was all the steel from the spike originally, or did you have to weld on extra? Seems like a lot to draw out from a single spike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 11 hours ago, bobasaurus said: Looks great, I might have to try making one. Was all the steel from the spike originally, or did you have to weld on extra? Seems like a lot to draw out from a single spike. I think, (we'll have to wait and see what he says) that he thinned down the handle of the spike so that he would have enough steel for the blade. Littleblacksmith or at least that's how I would do it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank B Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 No extra metal was added and I started with a standard / large 6.75" railroad spike. And yes I did thin down the handle to move more metal to the blade. I have made a lot of these in 3 or 4 different styles and I am getting a little better at forging to shape so there is less loss due to grinding at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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