Forging an AXE from a Rail Road Spike
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2024
- Forging a small axe or tomahawk from a railroad spike is a fun project. Although Rail Road spikes aren't particularly high carbon, so they won't have great edge holding ability.
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00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Upsetting
01:58 - Laying out the eye
03:27 - Slitting the eye
05:07 - Drifting
06:44 - Forging the blade
09:03 - Rough Grinding
10:17 - Can you harden a rail road spike?
14:26 - Finishing
16:24 - Putting it to the test
Anvil provided by; Fontanini Anvil and Tool
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Below you will find useful links that will help you in your journey as a blacksmith.
To find more information in blacksmithing in the US or to search for your local ABANA affiliate group visit.
www.abana.org/
Blacksmithing tools and supplies
Self contained air hammers - www.saymakhammers.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.oleoacresfarriersupply.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.piehtoolco.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.centaurforge.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsdepot.com/
General blacksmithing supplies - www.blacksmithsupply.com/
Square head bolts and lags - www.blacksmithbolt.com/
New anvils - www.oldworldanvils.com/
New anvils - www.nimbaanvils.com/
New anvils -
Industrial supplier - www.mcmaster.com
Tong blanks and tools - kensironstore.com/
Fire brick and refractory - refwest.com
Blacksmithing and related activities can be hazardous. These videos are not a substitute for competent professional instruction. Your safety is your sole responsibility. Always use appropriate safety equipment including eye and ear protection when working in the shop. Follow manufactures safety guidelines for the use of all equipment. In the event something shown in one of these videos seems unsafe, it is up to you to make the appropriate changes to protect yourself.t yourself.
I have been a blacksmith/ fabricator/ machinist for 50 + years and i never tire of watching other craftsmen share their knowledge. And i still learn stuff!
Hi friend I just figured I'd ask you but im getting into blacksmithing and I've mainly been using a friends forge but I was wondering if you know where I'd go about getting my own.
@@BigVince80bce i just saw this two months later. Try Pie tool company. Its a blacksmiths tool seller online. You’ll also find forges and what not on ebay.
@@beshkodiak thanks mate, I'll give the websites a look
U know Right!!🖒
What kind of charcoal you used sir?
I love the montage at the end; where the throws start good, and quickly go badly. Very funny.
Yeah same here!! That *woosh* cracked me up!! 😂
This comment had me dying and I had to watch it!!!
Anyway I love this fella, as a beginning bladesmith I love this channel. Very informative and love how you show all the work and explain things. Will be an avid watcher of your videos as long as you make content sir.
Yeah, especially that in UA-cam videos, they usually cut the bad ones so that it looks like a perfect hit first time.
@@J1I9M7M4Y I died at the pause and then the whoosh as well!
I like how you included the misses at the end.
Me and my wife just took a blacksmithing class a few days ago and I also made RR spike tomahawk. The gentleman that instructed us made it a very enjoyable experience, never took over, only pointed out where and why we running into any problems and told us how to correct it. When I expressed my long time interest in the craft he gave me a sizeable piece of railway track to use as a beginner anvil, and I just ordered my propane forge last night. I look forward to being able to use this video as a refresher when I finally get all of the equipment set up.
How's your journey going two years later?:)
Blacksmithing has always fascinated me. Love watching these and glad you talk through what you're doing.
Very nice video John. Your instructional videos are always worth watching. This rendition of a tomahawk from RR spike is pretty sweet.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for showing us that last throw! Gave me a good laugh and shows how genuine you are-no one is going to throw perfectly every time :P
My pleasure!!
Liked the keeping real with showing the miss throws.
Made me lol.
Great video John! And thank you for the test. I also see lots of people arguing over rr spikes. I think it is an awesome place to learn how to forge a shape into a different shape. Are they great steel? No. But I would not be scared to say that hawk is better than some that are commercially available and will serve it's purpose well.
Agree John, using a rail spike it needs to look like it was once a spike otherwise it was just scrap!
Thank you for doing the hardness test. I’m not the guy who picks a fight over that, but I am the guy who always asks about it! I’ve heard several times that those are mild steel, but I’ve watched plenty of guys make knives out of them. Yes, I understand they are novelty items, but they always imply that they are hardenable.
I have been watching craftsman like you for several years now. It has been educational of course but also therapeutic in some ways. I cant remember the last time I gave any attention to television. Thankyou.
great video! that cartoon sounding whoosh at 16:59 had me dying
thank you Sir, I particularly like the miss hits at the end, adds to the realism of the video, and as always thank you for the wonderful lesson. take care and Happy Holidays!
I had a good laugh at the montage from the end. Nicely done John.
Nicely done. One day I will start forging. Love the channel
I was thinking the same thing! It's been of interest to me for a long time. I'm a flint knapper and make flint knives and I wanna get into steel blades as well. Maybe this is the year we'll both start our journey into forging. Best of luck to ya and some day maybe we'll get to the level we wish to achieve. Y'all stay safe and God bless
@@BM205 God bless
Your little t;rowing demo at the end was welcome it got a smile out of me.🙏
I'm making this for sure! Plus it's a good excuse to add a new drift to the collection 😉
Turned out great. Think I'll give this a shot. Looks like those new spike tongs are working great.
Absolutely fantastic video
Glad you enjoyed it
Great information and instruction as always. I also appreciate the inclusion of the missed throws - we're all human and imperfect.
I just clicked on the notification but i already know i love it!!!
Nice job best one I have seen yet
Hello John! My favorite thing is when you make tools! Cool! I wish you a Merry Christmas from Poland.
you make it look so easy, especially making blade
Going to have to make a set of those spike tongs. The moment that convinced me was when you used them like flat jaw tongs to pick up the spike by the upset end. Way more versatile than the other spike tongs.
I had the same thought process.
You are exactly right how to measure the length of a hawk handle
One of the best videos I’ve seen in a while, John. Thanks for the gut rolling laugh you caused at the end. Love it!
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LOL when it completely missed the target was hilarious. Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved the 'wiff' near the end.
Fun. Thanks!
That got harder than what I thought it would. Another great video. Thank you!
GOOD LORD, I love the TRUE outtakes at the end!! HAHAHAHA
Reminds me of a RR spike knife video a few years ago, sliced rope, chopped wood, cut paper, but had debatable acceptance, depending on the intended usage.
Good video, those spikes have so many uses, very cool. Thanks, Clinton
Nice work John, your perception of things to make from railroad spikes is quite amazing.
Great video, again, Switzer. I have a huge bucket of spikes in my shop that I never touch. Maybe its about time I start making things out of them. I particularly like the hook spike ideas, but the Hawk is really cool too.
Great editing choices on the missed throws!
Glad you enjoyed it
Love the miss at the end. Thanks for all your hard work this year. Great vid
Nice closing shot there!
a sense of humor is a good thing!
Loved watching you make this. You do an excellent job teaching the process. The bonus was the final scene with you throwing it along with the failed hits and total misses. That cracked me up.
Thanks John! Great video. Definitely fills in the gaps where a couple others left a few details out. Guess what I’m about to go do? Make one of these little guys.
A nice and simple hawk. Pretty useful I'm sure. 👍
It looks like you may have made your own Christmas present.
Thanks for the explanation about the letters on the back of the spike and what it means. I had heard that they weren't good for much more than paperweights after they had been used.
A friend of mine whipped up one of these things. It's been surprisingly handy. Think of it as a cutting wedge with a handle. Root cutter, welding hammer, and a fair felling wedge
Great vid! My next project. Thank you!!
Great video John. Loved that you used your recent gifts and also the end was quite fun. I also agree with the direction of the spike point/blade. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Hello John
Niche little tomehawk good for bushcraft and when needed for defence .
Thank you for the idea and the sharing of your skills
Take care
Yours Frank Galetzka
Been told by 2 good BlackSmith to quench mild steel in water and still not tool steel but improve the hardness.
I'm surprised that RR spike has enough steel Seems you drew it out well.
Thanks Mr Switzer for the teaching Sir
Love this man’s shop and his work!
Fascinating to watch you work, truly art.
I love your great work and fun projects! I hope to do this myself soon!
Laughed out loud when that one throw completely missed
love loggin onto youtube and seeing that you uploaded, great videos. always helps me relax
Well, the last two years I've been secretly learning about forging and Smelting.
I wish I knew your channel existed.
I've recently turned to UA-cam for a few educational purposes. With the right research one can learn quite a bit from people just like you.
Thank you.
Thank you for being.
Tomahawk came out cool.I like spikes and horse shoe projects. Some fun and cool stuff can be made from them. Make something from horse shoe also.👍🔥🔥💥
Wow! Turned out nice! Looks like it throws good too!
Can't watch till later,John but I just got it recently
Thanks
Great work John, that's a nice tomahawk!
I love watching your videos, I find you very easy to listen to and I always enjoy seeing what you come up with. The axe throwing montage was very funny, I thank you for all your effort, skill and time you take to make these.
Splendid work 👍
Looks great, I like how you spread the cutting edge out, thanks for posting 👍
Really nice hawk. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
This was a joy to watch. Beautiful work
thanks for sharing always learning something new this is a better way blessings to you and your family 🙏
Very interesting, thank you for sharing.
Woweewow! Super project. I definitly want one of these. Thanks for sharing.
I don't know how UA-cam has never suggested one of your videos to me before, but Facebook did some time ago, and I finally made my way here. Great stuff! Subbed!
Welcome aboard!
Great learning videos! I like what you teach us in your videos. I am a beginner in forging and I watch with a lot of interest to what you present in your videos.
Awesome piece of work sir...I enjoy hawk throwing but enjoy watching them being made more. If u make another one I'd be interested in buying one.
Nice slim axe and svelte handle, John. I've made a list of your tutorials and this one is a dead cert to make next! Many thanks, lovely video. ~Wendi UK 🌻
I would have never thought that there was enough material on a spike to make a tomahawk. It looks awesome. And Merry Christmas and a great new year. 😁👍
I really appreciate this video. It contains valuable information and knowledge. Thank you kindly black bear forge.
John Merry Christmas here's to a Happy New year's ahead of you. I can't wait to see what you Forge up in the year to come. Very nice job turned out very cool. Big fan of the design of it. Hopefully you get great use out of it for many years. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work John. Forge On. Keep Making. God Bless.
A very well done video. Your ending was perfect.
That does look like a fun project. You could make a bunch for friends then meet up and play with them. That amount of temper seems a good compromise as you would not want them too hard anyway for when they hit the ground or rocks or whatever. If you really wanted I'm assuming one could forge weld in a hard piece for the edge. I hope you had a relaxing Christmas and took a break from all your video production.
It's been a while since I've made one of these. I think I'll try another. I'm going to try using a short, wide handled chisel under the inline treadle hammer to open the eye this time. Last ones I made, I used too narrow and small of a chisel and ended up stretching the sides of the eye a bit too much. Nice video, Merry Christmas John, thanks for all the content!
This is actually a great idea, thank you for the inspiration
Turned out great John...i do at some point need to make more of these.
I always love your videos. You've got such a practical approach to all of your projects. Nice work 👍
Thank you very much!
Merry Christmas! Love the video
Very well done!
👍
Newbie here, I really appreciate you explaining the steps is basic terms ! Bless you for sharing your knowledge! Can’t wait to make my own someday
Glad it was helpful!
very nice , lots of great pointers !!!
Shore looks nice
amazing gifts!! i love to forge them, you're the grandfather/father i always wish i had.
Looks nice John, and I appreciate the highlight real at the end! I was concerned for a minute that you were a professional tomahawk thrower as well. 🙂
I'm trying this tomorrow. Amazing work btw
Very good and informative video. Thank you!
Very good job 👌👍 on the video ! In the black smithing books they talk about steel you can find , and about what hardness they are . I think at one time railroad spikes my have been harder than what they are now . A lot of the older books mentioned that spikes are harder . Now they know they don't need to be that hard so it's cheap & good enough so that's what they are . I think there neat + if you know people that like trains then you really want to leave that nail head on it . Again good job
After watching this video I had to subscribe. This was a great tutorial!
Watched the whole way through great watching the process and funny ending! Great job and thanks for making this video
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great job John, turned out to be a great throwing hawk. Stay safe, fred 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻✋🏻✋🏻
That miss sound at the end 😅, Keep up the great work!
I'm a wood guy but I have always admired black smithing 😊
I've always wanted to try black smithing. Used to do copper foundry work previously
This is the first video of yours that I've watched and you get an automatic sub! Fantastic work on the axe, AND the video work! Your presentation is perfect for educating someone like me who's just thinking about getting into smithing. Thank you! You've sold me on it.
Welcome to the family
@@BlackBearForge thanks for having me. Ummm. When do we eat? :D
Hope you had a Merry Christmas John.
Amazing Job John great work with a railroad Spike thanks for sharing hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you a happy New Year
Thanks, you too!
I think you are hands down the best teaching Blacksmith on UA-cam. Thank you for all of the effort you put into helping others. I love this project and am going to try it. My question is on the drift. I am cheap, so have bought very few items, and prefer to try and make them. But is making a drift feasible? How do you know what size? Or do you just make it the size you want and make the handle to match?
Making a drift is certainly feasible. If you are buying ready made handle, make the drift to match the handle. Otherwise make the drift what you want and then fit the handle as needed. Eventually you'll end up with a fairly good assortment of drifts.
I definitely want one of those axes. Super cool.
Thank you .I I enjoy your work Iam starting smithing your videos have helped me understand things better
Glad to help