RAILROAD SPIKES ARE NOT KNIVES!
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2020
- Well, looks like Ive got to make some new friends on the internet. In this clip I answer the age old question. Listen up!
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I used to work as a machinist making and refurbishing industrial knives. I found RR spikes extremely useful for throwing at the crackheads and prostitutes trying to break into my car right outside the shop.
I was honestly wondering if they're good for crack head throwing!!
@@lancetranter5695 don't forget prostitutes too!
Especially if made into a tomahawk lol
Thank You. But the real question is " Can I make a good railroad spike from a knife ?"
Good question
Joey van der Steeg took a bunch of blades forge welded them and made a railroad spike so yes.
Your knife, maybe.
Joey did it ha ha
Yes you can, if you have good skill, just like any knife
Bravo! (I'm an 81-year-old newbie just getting into blacksmithing.)
And here I am at 33 years old thinking it's to late for me thank you for giving me hope
@@dameongray6412 I started at 28, am now 60, and have been doing it professionally for over 30 years. Single mindedness will take you far!
@@dameongray6412 never too late to improve yourself
Heck yeah man. It will add life to your years. Get after it, happy forging.
22 years old with only 4 years of experience here! Please be safe when it comes to posture, my back kind of hurts a little because I am neglecting on it and trying my best to maintain it.
If I were asked whether RR spikes made good knives, I would not immediately answer 'yes' or 'no'. I would ask what they plan to use it for. "Good knife" can mean different things to different people. I think people in the knife/blacksmith business sometimes overestimate how often or harshly most people use knives. The amount of "Ninja Swords" that are sold is one indicator. I think this is in agreement with everything said in the video, but I never pass up the opportunity so share my opinion :)
The Jupiter's Anus was one of my favorite bands in high-school
Didn't they go on tour w/ Spock's Beard?
I was into them before they were cool. They sold out, though.
Pffffffftttt what does this guy know about black smittin. Ill have you know I have watched dozen of blacksmith videos over the last two years and rail road knives are second only to samuari swords. Ill have you know I once cut a giraffe in half from stem to stern in one fell swoop from my rail road knife. After that I then it was still sharp enough to shave all the hair from my body.
This is a joke btw.
Dude! I forge welded 10 spikes, folded it umpteen million times, crafted a sameri sword, trave,ed back 8n time and gave it too a great warrior. It lasted 30 generations until Hiroshima melted it In to slag
True story!
@@johnburke5087 No way! I think I read about that on my trip to Japan last year. The Japanese President told me him very self about this story while we were drinking green tea in the Imperial gardens right before the Godzilla sirens went off. If it wern't for the brave Gundam pilots coming back from fighting Zion I wouldn't be here today telling you about this.
you two are shameless : )
Shameless? You should see what the ancient war lord paid me! Enough gold and women to buy hundreds of RR spikes! Ok at least 10. Ancient hookers cost a lot
@@gaveintothedarkness I laughed at your comment, until I got to the "This is a joke btw." It's pretty sad that it would be necessary to say that. But thank you, and John Burke, for giving me some additional laughs today.
Good video! Being more of a hobby blacksmith who doesn't make many knives I know how hard it is to learn something when people are volunteering false information.
Had a guy tell me the best throwing knife he ever had was a letter opener made from a railroad spike.
There is the Tye we all love! 👍👍
@@Grauenwolf That and this was well balanced he let me try it and it was a natural throwing knife. It just felt right!
That actually fits this topic fairly well, since a true purpose made throwing knife actually makes a very poor quality cutting knife. There is no advantage to a throwing knife with a keen edge, or any actual cutting edge for that matter. It's all about toughness, not wear resistance. Even the points don't need to be particularly sharp, just pointy enough to stick into a target long enough to count. To borrow from the traditional kukri crowd (when talking "modern" kukris), it's a KLO (Kukri like object), though in this case, a throwing "knife" or rather Knife Like Object.
"You cannot learn something you think you already know" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I volunteer at a museum village smithing and interpreting in period costume,. I have been working that forge (every chance I get) for 3 years, and I have learned a lot from watching your channel. I also bought a few books, and joined an association so I can learn from others. I know what you are saying is true and I love the fact you put it so bluntly. There are a lot of bad faith actors out there who talk out of their backsides, and then there are good smiths who will help a fellow craftsman out. Bravo you for doing the latter. If ever you decide to come to Canada I would love to have you visit our museum east of Toronto and work our forge with me! one of my favourite demonstration pieces I will do is the twisted square stock S hook you did a video on. I can make one in 5 to 10 minutes while interpreting the shop to guests, and show them a few basic techniques and a small project piece from start to finish. Thanks for doing what you do!
Love it! Happens in every class. There's always someone that has to let you know how much they know. They even know more than the instructor.
They need to make this a pinned video link on every knife making Facebook page and forum out there 🤣 straight and to the point as always!!!
or tattoo a link to this video on the back hand of every brand new knife maker!😀
@@chuckdavis7740 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you!! It is so good to hear from an honest man!! cannot say how many times i have seen people buy railroad spike knives thinking they have a extreme high carbon cutting tool...
That’s actually really good to know. Good man. Honest and entertaining, as always!!
Thanks, man. I appreciate brutal honesty. As a cook, I never use a poor quality ingredient because it will come through in the food and make poor quality food. Same principle, different discipline.
You mean you rather kill a bison for the tongue than use everything from a pork?
I appreciate this because recently I got my ass reamed for talking about making knives from mystery steel and the bladesmith I spoke to said any maker worth their salt wouldn’t take the chance on mystery steel because then you can’t guarantee the proper hardness and temper of the blade. It woke me up to just how precise bladesmithing should be.
Look, if all you care about is an aesthetically pleasing product (and some railroad spike knives are truly gorgeous), then the input steel really doesn't matter. If you care about the result as a tool, then absolutely, a good medium-high to high carbon steel (depending on what else you've got mixed into the alloy) is critical.
That's my position as an engineering student who's spent entirely too much of the last couple years burying himself in materials science.
@@Harrier42861 you basically just said what Ty said. I agree with you that the railroad knives can be visually pleasing or a great conversation starter, they are not quality material to make an actual long lasting knife. While I’m no engineer, I’m just a lowly farrier and amateur blacksmith, I can attest that mystery steel can either be rewarding or a total bust. I’d rather take that chance out and use steel that I know the content of to get the best ending result. I appreciate your comment.
Thats a little bit of snobbery going on there. Neil Kamimura uses reclaimed leaf springs sometimes which is mystery steel, and I would consider him to be "worth his salt"
If you know the spark test then it's not a problem. I've been making knives for thirty years. I use leaf and coil springs. I also use other steels. If I want to know what it's good for I just do a spark test: touch the steel to a grinder, the more the sparks "star" or flare the more carbon. Long red streaks are lower carbon, bright short sparks that branch out a lot are higher carbon. You can compare the mistery steel to a known steel and have a good idea of what you have
@@krknfmkr8919 would you consider using railroad spikes with your mixture of steals for making Damascus?
Right on man. I spent a year learning reserching reading all I could befor I ever put a hammer to hot steel! Im now 4 yrs in and am actually selling work. But I put in the time and educated myself befor I ever jumped in!
You Did Rite . Always educate your self . Research of others can be a wonderful thing .
Before has an e on the end of it.
@@nogoodcops6557 go be an English teacher.
@@shepardsforgeh2031 Married to one.
On them RR spike knives .. befor you even start forging that blade . If you have any carbon steel scraps that are 5/32nd thick and 3.5" long . Split that shank on that spike and forge weld that Bit to it like sand Mi .. then start forging out the blade , that way when you quench it in a real quenching oil or pearl oil from the feed store being the oil to 150 degs bring the blade up to a high orange just under yellow . And quench a 3rd of the blade . You want an edge table in your oul ajust it up and down with 4 bilts 3 to 4 " long you want your edge in the oil about a 3rd of the way .. when Quenching .. then temper at 165 3xs for 2 hours each .. real 01 or 5160 hammered down to 5/32nds and cleaned up makes a great Bit .. i spent 30 years learning the trates of 5160 . You keep it oiled and taken care of it will last you a life time . And the longer you play with it .the more of a hiperformance edge you can get .
Hello! Thank You for video. I have a point-if forge weld edge on spike? Or form spike-shaped handle when forge a knife from good steel? Thank You
I have been watching your videos for a couple of years, so I basically know everything there is to know about blacksmithing 😂😂😂😂 , thanks for your videos.
Finally an old fashioned trenton tye rant video!!
One of the best was the Tower Steel Video.
Would have been better with the old hat and glasses though.
Thank you for informing folks about rr spike knives , and to buy a book. I’ve been banging hot steel for the last 3 years and have made a few spike turds , moved on to other crafts on the anvil , at 61 , I love this new hobby
The quality of book counts. I have two hobby blacksmith books and neither told me anything about what kinds of steel are appropriate for different tasks.
Nathan Muenks I picked up a book at Tractor Supply , by C . McRaven ( I think ) “ Blacksmith Crafts for The Homestead “ or something to that effect , it has a good chapter about different types of steel. RR spikes fall into “ medium “ steel , so do tie rods , you get the idea RR spikes are great practice and make decent butter knives and letter openers. I have cut a cantaloupe with one come to think of it.
Nathan Muenks BTW. Trenton has written a book
Love it Trenton. Glad you encourage young/ New smiths to make them though. Great practice.
This was AWESOME to see a true and honest explanation of this with no BS in the way!!!!
Yup, they make goog letter openers ! 😃
Thank you! Thanks for saying what we have been thinking for years now.
This ranks up there with the Jet Fuel Won't Melt Steel Beams video.
Thank you.
I got a giggle outta that one! 🤣
I just got a 2 burner propane forge as a gift. What Books would you recommend for someone new to blacksmithing? Especially knives. Thanks and Great videos.
Great video! I always say that the HC on a RR spike stood for higher carbon not high carbon. And higher being higher than a standard spike. The only way it could be a good knife is to forge weld a high carbon steel into the blade.
@@TobinHolz it does stand for high carbon, but it's still to low to make a good hard cutting edge without the addition of a good high carbon steel. That's why I say higher not high.
@@SoggyBottomForgeJoe Highness is relative.
So ill just use two spikes. 45+45=90. Just kidding. Great vid thanks for the info.
Thats pretty awesome, Im stealing it!
Hey, that works for san-mai...
Just throw some CRV in the middle of two spikes and weld them together. Hammer them out to a blank and make what you will. The CRV in the middle will hold an edge, and the spikes will accept a baton blow out in the woods making camp fires. Although, three layer forge-welded steel may not be fancy enough for some, you will get a majority spike knife that actually works.
@@thomasarussellsr that's just extra work to end up with a knife that *might* be as good as if you'd simply used proper steel for the whole thing - with more opportunities along the way to screw it up and end up with junk. It doesn't make any sense.
Hi. Do you have any recommendations for a good book on knife making?
I'm just getting into blacksmithing as more of a hobby, so I appreciate this.
I tried to explain this 100 times and even pulled up the Railroad specifications for HC Spike's from the 1850's and those specifications have not changed since then. Nobody listens because it's not what they want to hear. So they keep asking the question expecting different answers hoping to hear what they want to hear.
It's part of human nature - many makers like to pretend they turned a sow's ear into a silk purse. And many buyers who don't know any better think it's neat that "my knife used to be a RR spike or wrench or leaf spring." Then of course there's those who yell, "But my great-papaw done it thata way one time during the Depression, so that must be the best way!"
It really doesn't make any sense... but human beings are very often driven by bullshit and emotions, not logic and facts.
@@dogslobbergardens6606 Leaf springs do make pretty decent knives though, and for an axe it's pretty spot on.
The only way is to forge weld a high carbon steel onto the end of it.
I was about to say that
@@mrscary3105 if you further into the comments, someone else said too.
Heat treat in Caseinite? Three cycles freshly repacked each time. Expensive but possible.
@@stanervin6108 case hardening is only skin deep. You will quickly sharpen through it and be back where you started.
Or to laminate it into the center...
Videos like this are why I subscribed! I want the truth, not sugar coated crap. I’m getting into blacksmithing, will be picking up my grandfather’s old equipment later this month
I'm a knife collector not a blacksmith I bought one of these railroad spike knives like you said for the novelty of it I really appreciate this video as a collector I have to deal with some of the same idiots or those who are new to collecting knives and buy into the gimmick that these things are actual usable tools keep up the great videos
This is helpful I’m trying to start forging and my takeaway from this video is that it’s not good for knives but I also heard that it’s good for striking tools like how they intended for railroads so my first project I want to do is make a chipping hammer from one
Craig Cowan over at The Barefoot Forge has a nice blog post regarding "HC" spikes, including references to ASTM standards (ASTM A65-07 Standard Specification for Steel Track Spikes) and a metallurgical analysis of RR spikes from his supplier. And yes, my first knife was a RR spike knife. I use it to open boxes containing blacksmithing books.
Thank you, I was arguing with my friend and this video helped us to make it clearer.
Press the victory, make him admit it! :)
What books should I be looking for on good knife steels and other forging techniques?
what books do you recommend for blacksmithing and type of metal?
Hey I learned something. Good info I have 3 spikes was curious on what they are made of and wasn’t expecting much but at least I know where they stand. Would it be best to make something else besides a knife?
even as just a manufacturing student this made sense, if a material isn't good for a specific application than you don't use it for that.
This is gold. Thank you sir. ☺
Thank you for your TYE talk.
Oh, MAN! I needed a good ole' Trent TIRADE RANT! Remember folks, the answer is "NO!". Thank Trent! This made my week (heck, might have made my month!). REALLY REALLY appreciate you calling out people not doing even the basics of trying to educate themselves about blacksmithing before jumping on forums with their basic beginner questions. There are SO MANY books, forum answers, etc out there that there's no excuse except, IMHO, laziness.
Trent is the one making friends, and I am the one who's happy.
Honestly the whole internet expert thing spans all hobbies and work.
On point! Gotta love it!
Thanks for the video it was very helpful.
I love this guy. He is spot on!
What book or books do you recommend?
My man with the real answers!! Thank you.!
People always ask, "Is this a good steel for knives?'. Just buy knife steel, and know what you have. It's easier and cheaper, if you figure your time.
What are your thoughts on using super quench for the surface hardening of the steel? I look forward to hear from you and thank you for sharing bye for now Ken
Nope, still in the realm of blah. Super quench, brine quench, potato quench, fart quench, nothing is going to make a RR spike anything close to simply using good steel. It can be case hardened but then the first time you sharpen it, its down to soft metal
I've made railroad spike knives but I have no illusions about what kind of steel they are.
They are fun to make and fun to go out and wreck.
I like your videos.
Hey, just wanted to ask if you have any recommendations on books?
Thanks for making this video I appreciate what you have to say. My question is how does asking a question make someone an idiot? If someone wants to do some little blacksmith projects for fun and doesn’t want to get super serious with it, I don’t see why with access to the internet, they should buy a bunch of books on blacksmithing and become like a blacksmith guru first…
I understand there’s TONS of people blabbing about stuff they don’t know anything about, but to say someone asking a question about something they don’t know about makes them an idiot, that itself isn’t a smart ideology, and is actually dangerous to society. When people are scared to ask questions in fear of being called an idiot, that is a very dangerous ideology.
Without people asking questions no one can learn in society and you get a population of “sheep”, not free thinking people willing to question things.
What I think should’ve been said is if you have a question about blacksmithing, you should look at a credible source from someone who knows what they’re talking about, not an online forum where anyone can say whatever they want. You can extend this to any subject too, not just blacksmithing. If you want to learn something an online forum is not the place to learn!!!
If anyone’s scared to ask questions because they don’t want to sound like an idiot, don’t be, because asking questions about something you don’t know about is in fact the smartest thing you can do in the situation. Not idiotic.
So, you basically just re-iterated what he was saying, save for demeaning him for calling people idiots for not educating themselves on the basics of blacksmithing and knifemaking first.
There is a lot of good information on the internet, just there for the taking. The problem lies in the fact we live in "satisfaction right now society". Too many new people DON'T WANT to put in even the minimum time to learn new things.....they want an answer NOW, even if it is incorrect. Therein the problem lies...right @purgatoryironworks ?
@FlatBrokeForge nope you just twisted his words ...I'm pretty sure he just said it's not okay to call people idiots for asking questions
Do you have a recommendation for a good first book?
The Art of Making Railroad Spike Knives. First edition.
Agreed. I'm in an blacksmiths apprenticeship right now. The European norm is to not define Points of Carbon, but either the minimum flexibility of the steel at a certain temperature, or straightforward say how many percent of what ingredient are worked into the steel.
Hey I was wondering if a HC railroad spike will be a good knife?
Hey, brother. Apprentice bladesmith here with an amateur question.
Could you cut a channel into the spike, san-mai style, and forge weld some good HC for a cutting edge to make a *good* RR knife?
What you have then is a chunk of high carbon steel with a railroad knife handle
How do you really feel? Lol You’re NOT wrong. I’m waiting to see the butt hurt comments
So you're saying it needs to be stamped with "H.C."? Got it.
I was hoping to find a bunch of "UNSUBSCRIBED!!!" comments, and even considered making one as a joke. Making friends, LOL.
Serious question what if you fold it
Well thank you for that brutally honest lesson. I have a few railroad spikes I was going to make knifes, as gifts…. But I’ll hold off.
Amen brother, as I tell my kids it is easier to learn with your eyes open and your mouth closed
Another question however. Can you make billets from the spike and layer them with true high carbon steel and do like a Damascus type deal?
Just got a forge and preparing to make my first one but great information
Any book recommendations for someone just starting?
My book (of course) Mark Aspery is the golds standard and Lorelie Simms has a good one.
What books do you recommend?
What he said. I'm a newbee. I have read a few library books, and listened to hours of instruction/discussion on UA-cam. I try not to ask questions unless I have done a bit of YT and Google search. If another newbee asks a question that I have worked through and made several wrong moves, I have rarely put in my $.02. Just to let them know what mistakes I have already made so they can avoid them.
very clear, nicely done
Would a RR spike be suitable for a low wear lows stress tool?
At the end of the day, is a medium carbon steel and good for a number of things.
@@purgatoryironworks thank you
Is it ok as a decorative display piece
I'm haven't done any knife forging but I was a machinest working with high carbon steels, he is very right with this information.
I do plan on forging some of these railroad spike knives and making one a decent knife by combining 1095 into the spike with a san mai technique.
Where would i aquire a cheap/free book that would help me learn?
100% Agree. And I'm holding my breath waiting for the AZZhats that always come along to inform you that its illegal to have in your possession railroad spikes.
That's not exactly true. You can buy wooden barrels full of railroad Spike's off the internet. Google it.
Christopher Elmer yes I know. But there are a lot who don’t. And they like to tell ya your breaking the law.
Well it would not be the 1st time I broke the law in this life. But I quit that shit because I don't like being in a concrete cage and I know how to behave.
Heck, I've seen a tornado stab a piece of grass straw through a barn door, that doesn't make a piece of straw a good knife any more than a rail spike.
I get this type of question on Timber Frame forums and UA-cam "Should I buy this old chisel/slick and restore it" and I tell everyone of them that unless the chisel/slick is good steel forget it because you will spend more time sharpening than working with it. I tell them to take a half hour and put an edge on it, use it for a bit and if the edge holds up, restore it. If it doesn't, dump it or restore it and put it on the wall because it will be useless as a tool! And BTW I have a hundred railroad spike I guess are going to coat hooks now LOL!
Thank you,,,I use a lot of Railroad spikes In my shop (Good cheap metal and useful as teaching material) when I give Blacksmith lessons..But I tell my students the same things when they all want to be the next great knife smith....(I make tons a good knives over the years, But I am more of a general Blacksmith..I am happy to say that some of my pass students have gone on and are making some beautiful great knives ..kept telling it the way it is..
Agree 100%. Half filled boxes make more noise than full ones.
Finally someone is willing to say exactly what you said, the way you said it... novelty item, good to practice/learn on... not a quality product in the end... hone the skills, expand the knowledge. Keep them coming!!
Completly agree and point has been made, thank you.
I've made a couple punches out of rr spikes, and they're....mostly functional. Have to dress them more often than I'd like to, but they'll do until I can afford some proper material for the job. Glad someone finally came out and said this.
Check our the wrecking yards for a old coil springs, just normalize it a few times before working
@@billygildark4565 I've had bad luck with old coil springs. Pretty much everything around where I'm at has had the ever loving crap beat out of it, micro crack city. Last few coil springs I've had I had to take back to the scrap yard because what I made out of them spider webbed in the quench.
Got me one from just cuz the shape had a nice spear shape and stays surprisingly sharpe for a rr spike.
Would you say it could be a good cheap practice tool when it comes to forging? I just mean in terms of shaping, twisting, and sharpening.
I’m a newbie and still in the book stage just yet, I have several spikes saved up for just this reason……. to practice on hammering and shaping before I start working on knife quality steel. I also started watching this channel and I’m impressed by his knowledge and the work he does
Just like rebar its good for new blacksmiths because you can practice with them and make decorative only knifes
So where can I get railroad spikes that will make a good knife?
What books would you recommend for someone who is wanting to get into hobby smithing?
The Art of blacksmithing is a good place to start. It is not an instruction manual, it is a historical tome but it has invaluable information in it. The Backyard Blacksmith is a much thinner, much more "how to" style book that I would recommend.
Foxfire published a book on the subject of smiths and smithing but it is a collection of magazine articles specific to Appalachia and I did not find it engrossing or informative on a cursory examination.
@@ManOf1ThousandHats Thanks! I'll go order it now.
The backyard blacksmith by Lorelei Sims
ISBN 978-0-7858-2567-8
When I bought it new off the shelf I was a wet behind the ears Smith that just made his first leaves. (They were awful)
This was the best 30$ I ever spent.
This is the absolute best book for the beginner. The book is well written and illustrated. With plenty of starter projects in the back. Hands down the best book for getting the techniques of how to use the hammer and anvil to best effect.
She doesn't cover knife making. Because she is an ornamental/ architectural Smith
So that's not really her wheel house.
Good luck hope this helps.
@@thevillageblacksmith8550 I just ordered that book, I look forward to reading it!
Don't stop asking questions my friend, because of what this guy says, he doesn't speak for all us smiths.
And where can I buy this book?
trentontye.com
I'v always wondered if i can take a knife and make a good rail road spike ?
Do they make good kunai or throwing knife
...... I would say yes, they would be an acceptable throwing knife.
The sad reality is, most people just don't know a good blade from a bad one, and maintain their good blades so badly it doesn't matter.
I *do* fully believe someone used a railroad spike knife to clean three deer - because I've absolutely seen people use knives which were completely, painfully dull. Sure, you're sawing all the time, making a huge mess, and ruining the meat, but there are definitely people who will do that.
I was gonna say this. Lmao cleaning meat and butchering meat are two different practices
Thank you for shooting straight !
Love those first points
*Would you consider using a railroad spike to mix what's your other steals when making Damascus?*
No. Its low carbon and not well suited. It can be done, you are just going to have an inferior product.
So would there be any value to using spikes as the 'outside' of a sanmai billet?
Yes, especially from the artistic side. Andy Alms does it all the time
Novelty items that's all they are. Bottle openers that bend or break handles for fire pokers and the body of dragonflies. RR spike anything's are decorations that's it.
Love that fact that you are right on dot. The question is: what can you make out of rail spike? I have seen people making hangers but that is it. Any innovative ideas?
I just like to make railroad spike knives because I have 200 + HC spikes and it's easy to make, I however don't sell them for more than like 20 bucks and I want them that it won't retain an edge. It's a novelty