Howdy

[Amoroso 82]

Hello:
I am amoroso82 and I am new to the world of blacksmithing, I am a cabinet maker specializing in hand made cabinets using mostly hand tools, My occupation is historical preservation, I am intrested in blacksmithing to make my own hinges, door and drawer pulls and other hardware, People really like those types of things and will pay a premium for them, so I will read every thing posted and will ask many questions. I am not going into this cold, I have read several books on the subject and have found an anvil and a rather bulky piece of rail road track as I have access to many pieces of the railroad. There is a switching yard near me and I have permission to help my self to anything in the scrap pile, that includes bolts tie plates track and these strange looking clips and a pile of spikes taller than me, I figure that even if these parts are low carbon then I still can make cabinet hardware from it. I will need to know if this is feesable as I have read in some sites that rail road steel is not good for anything.
I live in Cheyenne Wyoming with my wife, I am 52 years old and in good health, and I have been a carpenter since 1969. I have always purchaced my rose head nails and hand made hardware so now as I said before I want to make my own.
amoroso82

[Frosty]

Welcome aboard Amoroso82.

The clips are in the range of 1045 medium C and good for tools needing toughness.

There are a LOT of practicing smiths who got into it like you are, to make hardware or tools for themselves. Wait till you use a chisel or plane iron you made for yourself. Of course by that time you'll be thoroughly and hopelessly addicted to hot metal.

Glad to have ya.

Frosty