Jump to content
I Forge Iron

Brand new to smithing (as of today new) in NH


SkoobyNewb

Recommended Posts

Just wanted to say hi to everyone; just got an old riveters coal forge, a large leg vice and an anvil. I started playing with a railroad spike today. Twisted and pounded it out to my main shape; I'm going to heat treat it tomorrow and then sharpen it. We'll see how it turns out, fingers crossed. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome aboard Skoob glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many of the Iforge gang live within visiting distance.

Forget heat treating a RR spike it doesn't contain enough carbon to harden. Spikes are formulated so they CAN'T get hard, nobody wants a spike snapping and letting a train go it's own way.

We'd like to see pics, we LOVE pics, your projects, shop, tools, scenery, well about anything you'd show a young child to whom you didn't want to have to explain adult topics.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It might work for YOU but not the spike. Even the ones marked HC have a maximum ACCEPTABLE carbon content around 30 pts. Straighten it out and narrow the profile and they make nice letter openers.

Products made from RR spikes are popular, folk are attracted to things they can see the transition from the origin to the finished product. Almost everybody recognizes a RR spike and being able to trace it from the original to the finish form by feel and eye is a HUGE marketing plus.

Frosty The Lucky.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, SkoobyNewb said:

 I was told that the anvil was an absolute steal and is worth far more than the entire purchase price for everything. 

Understatement of the year.  Depending on your location, even the vise is possibly worth your purchase price.

Re: location, as Frosy said it can matter.  User/Settings, add general location & save.  Sometimes answers are mitigated by where your cast a shadow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, SkoobyNewb said:

 

I cant seem to be able to see where i set my location. 

provided you're using a web browser on a PC with a decent resolution, you can do the following:

  • log in on the site
  • click the triangle by your login name that's at the top-right of the screen, then click profile
  • click edit profile, which will be in a grey box in the top-right of a bigger grey box toward the top...ish of the page.
  • scroll down to the section just below where it says "Profile Information" in bold characters and location should be the 2nd option down, just below gender and above interests
     

and regarding your purchase price, all that kit for 150 is an absolutely phenomenal deal, whoever sold it to you must really like you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Juc said:

provided you're using a web browser on a PC with a decent resolution, you can do the following:

  • log in on the site
  • click the triangle by your login name that's at the top-right of the screen, then click profile
  • click edit profile, which will be in a grey box in the top-right of a bigger grey box toward the top...ish of the page.
  • scroll down to the section just below where it says "Profile Information" in bold characters and location should be the 2nd option down, just below gender and above interests

Best explanation I've seen.  Marked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe I set my location,  thanks for the advice guys.  I did end up (if not just to try something new) heat treat the spike knife with some super quench. I can say that it is noticeable harder. Definitely not like true hardened steel, but a noticeable difference.  Working on some tongs now, since the ones that i used on tue the knife just aren't right for the job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WELCOME TO THE SITE,  I would like to help ya get it set but you still havent told us where you are.  Since you havent, I dont know what to set it too for you ?

 

ps If you did change it in the correct place, you need to scroll  to bottom of page to SAVE the information

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...