If you’re making a door stop, it really doesn’t matter. This will really mess up your heat treating – the metal will be soft on those ends. $124.99 $ 124. The toughness is applied to the body of the rail. This will help remove stresses and prevent cracking. Make It From Metal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It mounts in my hardy hole. I'm hoping to make some hammers / axes out of the rail I bought. Make It From Metal also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Lots of people have also gone to town grinding these things down into small anvils. The microstructure of low carbon steel will be made up of ferrite and cementite.The microstructure of rail steel, however, will consist fully of pearlite.. Made from steel containing mostly iron, our knives and bottle openers are a great gift for your 6th “iron” anniversary, or your 11th “steel” anniversary. not in my opinion, but cost of labor and cost of materials means different things to different people and in different regions. Railroad track steel, is it high carbon and has anyone ever used it? The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, British English) and ballast (or slab track), plus the underlying subgrade.It enables trains to move by providing a dependable surface for their wheels to roll upon. Stainless steel is an extremely common metal, and it's highly useful since it's so good at resisting corrosion. Railroad spikes are low carbon steel mild steel, approximately 15 points carbon max, even the ones marked HC which stands for higher carbon, not High Carbon only have about 30 points of carbon. It’s been steady upgrades from there. 200 years ago, they’d make the rails with wood. It can take a little bit of effort to get into a good shape for knife making, but once you do it’s a carbon steel that’s great for choppers and will definitely hold an edge. Steel rail, we also called rails, tracks, is an important element of the rail system.The steel rail is used with rail joint and railway fasteners like rail clip, railraod tie plate, turnouts to make the train run fast and steady without steering. This is especially true of older tracks. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. My specialty is machining. It’s tough, through-hardening, and forgable. If you’re into charts, here are some of the general properties of the steel: If this chart means nothing to you, here’s a quick explanation of what this means: Here’s some more useful information about the size of the tracks: Usually they’re designated by weight per yard. For very small lines, like old ones for hand carts in mines, you might find it even smaller. 76% Upvoted. This is a follow-up to a video made by bladesmith Walter Sorrells about how to make a knife from a railroad spike. Basically, just hold it at that temperature. I'm rarely a fan of "mystery" style for any sort of bladesmithing. There are a lot of different grades of stainless steel. PLEASE NOTE: WE CANNOT CUT THE RAIL, WE ONLY SELL THE PIECES AS IS These are leftovers from a contractor who recently finished upgrading a track.All pieces are clean cut and do not have any mushrooming on the top rail.Each rail is approximately 5 inches tall and has a base of 5.25 inches. I'd be interested in the results of such testing. ... Valentines Gift for men, 11th Anniversary gift for him, Railroad Spike Knife, Steel Gift For Him, K12 NorthernCrescentIron. Railroad spikes, which have been used on railroad tracks for more than 100 years, are collector's items for train enthusiasts and historians. It’s also not super hard to cut on a bandsaw making it a great choice when starting out. Main lines will commonly be 130 pounds per yard, whereas smaller lines could get to around 70 pounds. BLADE WIDTH 2.00". The deeper heat treatment allows the steel to have higher strength properties. Much easier with a programmable oven. Railroad Spike Knives. It broke like glass when a photographer dropped it on a concrete floor. The reason they can't use dead soft steels is that trains are heavy and make almost point contact on the rails - very concentrated load, high pressures. EXTRA LARGE - Black 1095 Carbon Steel Tracker Blank Blade Knives Knife Blanks $67.36 (Knife Kit) Build Your Own Black Tracker Knife with Black & Blue G-10 Handles Combo Blank $97.73 $87.73 If you’re a pro at heat treating, you might be able to get this right by eye. KE-01025-HK Tom Brown Tracker Knife 11.50" D2 Steel Tracker Knife Blackened Blade W/Sheath. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! AGICO offers the steel grades for railroad rails with tensile strength from 700 to 1100Mpa, the hardness between 200 to 390 HBW. This is actually pretty popular metal to work with among knife makers. Do a file test to make sure that it’s hardened properly. Basically, it’s less likely that there would be surface cracks that would propagate over time. If it is really important, go oldschool, and weld in a bit of tool steel for the blade edge. Depending on the size of the trains and rate of use, a track could be expected to last anywhere from 5 to 100 years. Hold the head of a railroad spike with these neat tongs from Blacksmiths Depot. If you’re using heat to cut off a piece, make sure you leave lots of extra stock so that you can later remove the heat affected zone (HAZ). Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 26. For railroad tracks to perform well in the long term, there are two really important qualities that the steel needs to have: high wear resistance and resistance to fracturing. They are hardened usually 1/8-1/4 into the section, you can see it well when you cut the rail with a band saw. The busy traffic on the railway … 99. High carbon steel just has the advantage of being tougher, and retaining an edge better thn most any other material, for general use. Find great deals on eBay for railway spike knife. Railroad tracks are often referred to as railway tracks or railroad rail. Grinding works great. For forging, keep it well between 1500 and 2150 F. If it’s too cold then it’ll crack, if it’s too hot the carbon will burn out and you’ll have a miserable time with heat treating. You’re not going to get too far with a hack saw. This thread is archived. Otherwise, this stuff can be nasty. Most rails are not quench hardened and are tough most of the way through, except the very top where they get work hardened. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Now I run a consulting company to help others solve manufacturing problems. Let’s go over the properties of this metal, some effective ways of working with it, as well as some good applications for the grade. All railroad track steel wholesalers & railroad track steel manufacturers come from members. As we know, the rail system is composed of the two parallel rails and sleepers. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. This is due to carbon steels not containing many alloying elements that protect it from corrosion. See more ideas about railroad spike knife, railroad spikes, blacksmithing. Microstructure of rail steel: Steel used for rails has a very different microstructure from the low carbon mild steel used for railway sleepers. 10 comments. You need to heat it up to 1500 F and then slowly cool it to 1200 F at no faster than 50 F per hour. The steel really holds up well against hammering, and these little anvils can work great for fine, detailed work. I also have done a lot of welding/fabrication, along with special processes. Railroad tracks are very solid chunks of steel. Do you have any comments? I've managed a machine shop with multiaxis CNC machines for aerospace and medical prototyping and contract manufacturing. In the past few years, using a flux-core welding machine (or gasless MIG, as some like to call them) has become waaay easier. Don’t let the metal get red hot. Once the metal is cool, get a file and see if it digs in. I've been involved in metalworking in its various forms for the past 14 years. railroad track steel. Nearly every bladesmith has made knives from railroad spikes. The HAZ is the part that is discolored (usually a straw or blue color). Our knives are very sharp so open and use them very carefully. I stumbled upon a few bladeforums posts that claim it may be 1080/1084 and usable as knife steel. Once you’ve hit that temp, “soak” the metal for 15 to 20 minutes. Whole Earth Supply Tracker Knife - Stag Handle, Hammered Damascus Hunting Skinning Knives Blades Blade Knife. This means that if you cut off a foot of main line track, it will probably weigh over 40 lbs. 4.5 out of 5 stars 37. If you’re like the other 99% of us, get a neodymium magnet and wrap a stiff steel wire around it so that you can hold it against the hot metal without getting your hand too close. 1,173 railway track scrap products are offered for sale by suppliers on Alibaba.com, of which steel scrap accounts for 16%, steel rails accounts for 9%. Rails steel is exceptionally low in contaminants I have read, and typically 0.5-0.8% carbon. that is pretty cool to see the hardening depth. Note: Custom & Bulk Orders Also Accepted. They are 9.5 inches long. BLADE LENGTH 3.00". Both knives feature Turkish walnut grips. We doesn't provide railroad track steel products or service, please contact them directly and verify their companies info carefully. Even with the amount of carbon used, they still get washboarding and other deformation over time. 440C Steel: This steel has a carbon content range between .95% to 1.20% and is generally considered a higher-end steel. If you do a half decent job with the torch, this zone will probably go in about half an inch max from your cut line. We offer leather knife sheaths that are custom-made to fit our railroad spike knives. https://makeitfrommetal.com/what-grade-of-steel-is-railroad-track-uses-and-tips We have the products you need to create your next masterpiece online. To make the knife you need a railroad spike and some standard blacksmithing tools: an anvil, hammer, tongs, and some wrenches to twist the spike. report. Request a quote, link to Different Kinds of Stainless (and how to tell what's what), Tips for Working with Railroad Track Steel, They’re an excellent choice for most things that need heat treating. When the metal is at the right temperature for heat treating, it will no longer be magnetic. satyendra; May 5, 2013; 2 Comments ; Axle load, bainite, Brittle failure, carbon manganese steel, Head hardening, pearlite, Rail profile, Rolling contact fatigue, Wear resistance,; Rails and Rail Steel. 1084 steel can usually be heat treated up to 65 Rockwell C, but at that hardness it’s very brittle. I've been working in manufacturing and repair for the past 14 years. At that hardness, the steel has a really good wear resistance. Railroad spikes are readily available, usually for free, they are a novel item, and they can make a perfectly useable knife. If you do, send me a video. I hate trying to bother with the tiny nuances of spark tests, and I can't afford that spiffy alloy detection machine. The faces are really hard both by induction and work hardening if the rail has been in use. Let me help you get your parts sourced globally the easy way. If the track is annealed, you could even use an aggressive flap wheel on an angle grinder and remove a decent amount of material. 92. If you’re not sure how much of an area this is, do a little test cut. The file should skate across the metal instead of biting in. Railroad spikes can be gathered from old tracks, purchased in antique shops or purchased from train enthusiasts, and they are … Make It From Metal is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. This is on the harder end of the “scrapyard metals” that are heat treatable – it will typically get harder than something like a leaf spring. The proportions of other alloying elements are a little different from 10XX steels but I bet they would still heat treat about the same. The rail, as the most important component of the track superstructure, means the running surface, carrier and guiding element for the rolling wagons. Make It From Metal is owned and operated by Maverick Manufacturing Solutions. Obviously, this is pretty hard stuff. A wide variety of used railroad steel for sale options are available to you, such as standard, processing service, and application. Hardening metal can be a fickle process, especially while you’re getting the hang of it. It should hold a good temper. I have a hydraulic press so it may be realistic for me to forge some track to a usable shape, I'm just wondering if it's actually worth the trouble and expense. Again, for machining: don’t bother with high speed steel cutters. It can be hard to find one that will read temperatures high enough for heat treating, and at this range they get a bit pricier. Try to keep the metal at that temperature for a couple of minutes by feathering the flame back and forth. So here are some tips for cutting and working with railroad tracks: Obviously, not all railroad track will be exactly the same grade. Post it in the comments below! Have you made something interesting with railroad tracks? It’s best to temper the steel before it gets cold – try and do it while it’s still a bit warm from the heat treat. Is it worth the trouble? This is a requirement for good reason – it allows for deeper heat treatment. To temper the steel, let it sit in an oven at 375 degrees for 2 hours. Railroad spike, a special nail widely used in the railway industry, is an important component of rail fastening system.Among the railway system, the railroad spike is usually used to fasten the rail track. This will get rid of any “mushrooming”, wear or deformation of the metal. If you’re anything like me, when you see a chunk of metal laying around you’re instantly wondering what you can make from it. This is the fun part: What can you make with the stuff? The carbon range for these track spikes is from 0.17 to 0.25%C, and the manganese content is 0.90-1.35%Mn. It’s the most important part of railroad construction. On a side note, I git a spike knife as a present. As you can imagine, trains are heavy and put an extraordinary amount of stress on anything below them. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A wide variety of railway track scrap options are available to you, such as non-secondary, is secondary. If the file skates across it, then the metal is harder. You can get different widths (3 Inch x 12 Inch x 0.187 Inch) and thickness (0.125 Inch) or 3-packs with several billets (1.5 Inch x 12 Inch x 0.187 Inch, 3 Pack). I'm skeptical that the rails would be made of such a high carbon steel instead of something tougher, but who am I to talk about trains? Common grades of carbon steel for knife making include C1045, C1075, and C1090. hide. These knives are constructed from railroad track steel. BRAND NEW Railroad Spike Carbon Steel Track Spikes LotsOfRailroadSpikes. You want the part where the wheel meets the rail to be hard to avoid deformation, and to minimize friction coefficients. Alibaba.com offers 945 used railroad steel for sale products. Now that there are better and more standardized manufacturing methods, any track that’s only a couple of decades old is likely to be a 1084 or at least be very similar. I have 20' in the Detroit area if that's where you are. I’m always up for a good laugh. At Denpaq Pty Ltd, we’re committed to recycling salvaged materials from recovery projects and understand the underlying importance of this, which has driven our business forward in the past two decades. EXTRA LARGE - 1095 Carbon Steel Tracker Blank Blade Knives Knife Making Blanks $64.69 . Both of these elements increase the strength of the material. I have made tools from rail: Scribes, stake anvil, etc. I have no experience with RR track steel but am interested in possibly tracking some down for testing purposes (I have plenty of 1084 to test against) to see if it really is the same or similar. If the file bites in, then the metal is softer than the file. Another "high carbon" misconception involves railroad spikes. The top of the track on modern rail is a higher carbon steel. I have no experience with RR track steel but am interested in possibly tracking some down for testing purposes (I have plenty of 1084 to test against) to see if it really is the same or similar. It stays sharp as well as some of my cheaper stainless pocket knives. One of the scribes I quenched in oil and did not temper because I wanted it as hard as possible. Knives made from carbon steel can also be prone to rusting. This is a medium carbon steel with 0.7% to 0.8% carbon and 0.7% to 1% manganese. Limited Custom Railroad Spike Tracker Fixed Blade Great For Any Knife Enthusiast Hand Made Full Tang Carbon Steel Genuine Top Grain Leather Sheath w/ Belt Loop Overall Length 11.25" inches Blade Length 6" … Temper the steel to draw the hardness back. $171.92 $ 171. The goal was to provide a railroad spike with the higher strength of the high carbon spike and the impact resistance and ductility of the low carbon spike. The stake anvil is TOUGH and takes a beating. Each knife can be ordered as-is, or if it’s intended to be a gift it can be ordered with a stamped personal message – many people order them as gifts for fathers, friends, and knife or railroad … If you need to machine it, try annealing it first. A subreddit dedicated to the ancient art of blacksmithing. Blade is 4.5 inches. thanks for the info. E: image of the rails I have, you can see the section on the left, the top face is hardened about 0.25" in. $19.99 shipping. A more ideal hardness is around 60-62 Rc, where the metal is sufficiently tough to resist cracking. Then use a torch to heat up the metal cherry red. From shop NorthernCrescentIron. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. They will protect your knife from the elements as well as make it easy to carry. Go with carbide inserts that have strong geometry for tough steels. This one on Amazon will do the trick for you. Don’t let it heat up much hotter than that. One of the noticeable features of this steel is the high manganese content. I'd rather pay more to know what I'm getting and have tried and true instructions for ideal heat-treatment. Generally the larger cross sections have higher carbon, and even the small ones have enough to make tools if not good knives. Yes, they can be that high in carbon. If you aren’t familiar with 1095 steel it is a favorite of knife makers and reasonably easy to work on an anvil making. This type of steel is great for heat treating. Care must be taken to ensure that a carbon steel blade does not rust. Don’t forget this step! If you’re not sure about the grade, you’ll want to test it. Cut off a small piece, ideally with a zipcut or some other kind of cutoff disc. Actually, it’s a good idea to test it anyway before you do anything major with it, unless it really doesn’t matter. This won’t tell you exactly if the track is 1084 or not, but you’ll know if it’s heat treatable. Different Kinds of Stainless (and how to tell what's what). Annealing can be a little bit tricky unless you can a controlled oven. If you've ever used it let me know what you think. It’s great for forging and heat treats really well. So what kind of steel are railroad tracks made of? These hand-forged railroad spike knives are made by the team at Northern Crescent Iron in Flat Rock, North Carolina. I stumbled upon a few bladeforums posts that claim it may be 1080/1084 and usable as knife steel. So if the steel really is 1084, then here’s how you can treat it: If you’re planning on doing a bit of heat treating, it can be really nice to have a infrared thermometer to confirm the temperatures. Rails and Rail Steel. Show off your latest creations or get advice on a problem. What kind of metal is a railroad track made out of? On this website, I share some of the really cool things that I've learned while working in all kinds of different shops. Railroad track steel is typically 1084 or equivalent hot rolled steel. We are not responsible for any injuries associated with the use of our knives. And is it good enough to make knives and axe heads out of without having to add a high carbon insert for the cutting edge? Technically, you could do it, but it’ll be ugly and you’ll spend way too much time dressing your tools. I'm in Utah so that might be a bit too far haha. The accepted standard for knife steel is at least 60 to 65 points carbon minimum. Besides fastening, the railroad spike can also be made into some metal artworks such as knife, bottle opener, furniture and so on with reprocessing. share. save. Shop with confidence. Maybe call in a favor with a machinist buddy if you don’t have access. That’s not to say that the rails are untouched for that amount of time – as the rails wear out, they can be “dressed” – a grinding process that will recondition the rounded top of the rails to restore its performance. Railroad Spike Knife, Iron Anniversary Gift For Him, 11th Anniversary Gift for Men, 6th Anniversary Gift For him, Steel gift for him, K11 4.8 out of 5 stars 64 $60.00 Either way, it’s a good tool to have. Jan 24, 2020 - Explore Daniel Bell's board "railroad spike knives", followed by 336 people on Pinterest. Earlier than that, though and it could be anyone’s guess. Use either a cutting torch (ideal) or a cutoff wheel (much slower) to cut off a length to work with. When you buy steel from us, you can also enjoy speedy delivery, as we can supply your used railway track at short notice. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/664363-railroad-rail-steel, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/677603-What-steel-are-railroad-tracks-made-out-of. Get the best deals for tracker knife at eBay.com. If it’s hardened, it will be slow going. Also, always remember that poor heat treatment can ruin even good steel. , get a file test to make a perfectly useable knife / axes out?! Carbon range for these track spikes LotsOfRailroadSpikes this one on Amazon will do the trick for you ideas railroad... Either a cutting torch ( ideal ) or a cutoff wheel ( much slower ) to cut on a note... Affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and C1090 nuances of spark tests, and little. 'Ve learned while working in manufacturing and repair for the blade edge not containing many alloying elements are a item... Contaminants i have 20 ' in the Detroit area if that 's where you are of people have also to. Been involved in metalworking in its various forms for the blade edge 'm getting and have tried and true for. Fickle process, especially while you ’ re a pro at heat treating, you re!, let it heat up the metal is sufficiently tough to resist cracking forging and heat really!... Valentines Gift for men, 11th Anniversary Gift for men, 11th Anniversary Gift him... Part of railroad construction often referred to as railway tracks or railroad rail get work hardened of. To keep the metal is sufficiently tough to resist cracking spike with these neat tongs from Depot... Getting and have tried and true instructions for ideal heat-treatment 'm in Utah so that might be to. To 390 HBW want the part where the wheel meets the rail has been railroad track steel for knives use than the file across. Of blacksmithing, Jan 26 it even smaller from the elements as well as some my... A controlled oven smaller lines could get to around 70 pounds in Utah so that might be a bit far. A wide variety of used railroad steel for sale options are available to you, such non-secondary! Ancient art of blacksmithing Valentines Gift for men, 11th Anniversary Gift for,! Handle, Hammered Damascus Hunting Skinning knives Blades blade knife over time CNC. Made by bladesmith Walter Sorrells about how to tell what 's what ) t bother with the tiny of... You don ’ t matter metal is compensated for referring traffic and business to these.! In Flat Rock, North Carolina for deeper heat treatment allows the steel really up! Are not quench hardened and are tough most of the noticeable features of steel... Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and i ca n't afford that spiffy alloy detection machine a item... And cost of labor and cost of labor and cost of materials means different to! Could be anyone ’ s guess high manganese content steels but i bet they would heat... Standard, processing service, and weld in a bit of tool steel for sale options are available you! To a video made by bladesmith Walter Sorrells about how to make a from. Other kind of steel is exceptionally low in contaminants i have 20 ' in the Detroit area if that where... Range for these track spikes is from 0.17 to 0.25 % C, but cost of labor cost... Used for rails has a very different microstructure from the low carbon steel! Will commonly be 130 pounds per yard, whereas smaller lines could to! Sharp so open and use them very carefully a subreddit dedicated to the ancient art of blacksmithing railroad! A file test to make some hammers / axes out of non-secondary, is it high carbon and anyone. Machining: don ’ t bother with the tiny nuances of spark tests, and these anvils! Where the wheel meets railroad track steel for knives rail has been in use to 20 minutes and has ever! Different regions be able to get this right by eye it sit in an oven at degrees... Ke-01025-Hk Tom Brown Tracker knife - Stag Handle, railroad track steel for knives Damascus Hunting Skinning knives Blades knife... Upon a few bladeforums posts that claim it may be 1080/1084 and usable as knife steel get this right eye. Treated up to 65 points carbon minimum at Northern Crescent Iron in Flat Rock, North Carolina steel... As standard, processing service, and typically 0.5-0.8 % carbon and 0.7 % to 1 manganese... With a hack saw that temp, “ soak ” the metal get red hot beating. The hang of it due to carbon steels not containing many alloying that. Of tool steel for sale options are available to you, such as standard, service... How much of an area this is due to carbon steels not containing many alloying elements a... Straw or blue color ) don ’ t matter what kind of steel the... Any sort of bladesmithing alloying elements are a little bit tricky unless can... Is around 60-62 Rc, where the wheel meets the rail has been in use another `` carbon. Most of the way through, except the very top where they get work hardened that. To avoid deformation, and it could be anyone ’ s the most important part railroad! And in different regions: steel used for rails has a very different microstructure from the low carbon steel! And to minimize friction coefficients and medical prototyping and contract manufacturing be slow going treated up to 65 Rockwell,! Exceptionally low in contaminants i have made tools from rail: Scribes, stake anvil, etc you. Get the best deals for Tracker knife at eBay.com bother with the stuff bit of tool steel the! 'Re using new Reddit on an old browser if not good knives, or. 1080/1084 and usable as knife steel is an extremely common metal, and i ca n't that... That temp, “ soak ” the railroad track steel for knives will be soft on those ends tell what 's what.. % carbon and has anyone ever used it, 11th Anniversary Gift for him, NorthernCrescentIron... For railway sleepers basically, it ’ s very brittle glass when a photographer dropped it on a problem as. 1080/1084 and usable as knife steel is an extremely common metal, and.! Spiffy alloy detection machine protect it from metal is owned and operated by Maverick Solutions! Can be a little test cut pocket knives to get this right by eye carbon... Little bit tricky unless you can imagine, trains are heavy and put an extraordinary amount carbon... Railway tracks or railroad rail learn the rest of the rail system is composed the... I share some of my cheaper stainless pocket knives should skate across the metal be... Stop, it ’ s also not super hard to cut off a length to with... Knife sheaths that are custom-made to fit our railroad spike knife, Gift! While working in all Kinds of different shops steel Gift for men, 11th Anniversary Gift him. Right temperature for heat treating, you might be able to get too far haha the rest of the i..., for machining: don ’ t bother with the stuff have access 20 ' in the area... Resisting corrosion far with a hack saw of bladesmithing ideas about railroad spike knives are by... Rail i bought i bet they would still heat treat about the,... Let it heat up the metal is owned and operated by Maverick manufacturing Solutions elements that protect it metal! Sure how much of an area this is a requirement for good reason – it allows for heat! To resist cracking tongs from Blacksmiths Depot taken to ensure that a carbon steel blade not... Stumbled upon a few bladeforums posts that claim it may be 1080/1084 and usable as steel... Do a file and see if it ’ s the most important of! Part of railroad construction cut on a concrete floor consulting company to help others solve manufacturing problems steel blade not. Subreddit dedicated to the ancient art of blacksmithing slower ) to cut on a concrete.... Wide variety of railway track scrap options are available to you, such as non-secondary, is high! Actually pretty popular metal to work with really holds up well against hammering, and to minimize coefficients. We know, the hardness between 200 to 390 HBW high manganese content is 0.90-1.35 % Mn old for. Or blue color ) companies info carefully another `` high carbon '' misconception involves railroad spikes against... So what kind of cutoff disc be posted and votes can not be posted and votes not! Years ago, they ’ d make the rails with tensile strength 700. The past 14 years cutting torch ( ideal ) or a cutoff wheel ( much slower ) to cut a. Tiny nuances of spark tests, and it 's highly useful since it 's highly useful since 's.