Rail tie as knife metal?

[SeattleBen]

I'm working on a maintenance facility construction project for a light rail project where there are plenty of scraps laying around. I asked one of the rail install guys and he's looking into it as well but hoped to find something here. If it's of any use to any of the smiths around I'm happy to work on getting it to you. What I know about it is that it's 115 rail which means it's 115lbs per 3 foot section.

 

[CoteRotie]

Might be good for cladding for a san-mai knife, but I think rail steel is soft/tough, around HRC 45 max, so not suitable for the core.

 

[Kippington]

+1
Yeah there isn't enough carbon in it to make a good blade.

 

[SeattleBen]

Thanks guys. I'll continue to leave them where they are!

 

[HRC_64]

Thanks guys. I'll continue to leave them where they are!

If you have access to offcuts to actual railroad "track" segments, these would be more useful.
It's commonly advised to re-purpose old railroad track stock as an anvil.
See, eg.> https://www.google.com/search?q=railroad+anvil

A "railroad tie" is technically the supports for the railway...ie, its the wood that goes sideways under a rail (or its alternative material replacement). Not trying to be pedantic, but just to clarify what you are asking about.

Wooden ties are used on many traditional railways. In the background is a track with concrete ties.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_tie

This discussion from bladeforums also probably worth reading just for background.
>https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/illegal-to-posses-old-railroad-track-pieces.1110740/

 

[SeattleBen]

What I've got access to is the track trimmings. They're for light rail and what the guys were saying is that it can be repurposed to anvil that the best rail for that is the stuff that's for gantry cranes which is flatter and quite a bit wider than what's used for light or heavy rail. It does appear that the rail guys are willing to give us buckets of spikes as well if we're into it and he's heard of quite a few knives being made out of them but I'm not a smith. In any event if anyone needs or wants spikes I may be able to get them.

Yes I misspoke and our ties in this case are actually cement.