July 11, 201610 yr 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.
July 11, 201610 yr 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.
July 11, 201610 yr 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?
July 11, 201610 yr 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?
July 12, 201610 yr Author 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.
July 12, 201610 yr 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.
July 23, 20169 yr 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.
July 23, 20169 yr 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.....
July 27, 20169 yr Author 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.
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