Blacksmithing - Railroad spike hooks - Hook of the Week 29

[@asyntheticsound]

found this video as i was researching how to make hooks out of old metal things. after finishing the video & reading the description... i’ve gotta hand it to ya. you’re an actual angel for devoting your time to teaching people how to do these things via youtube, all while providing links to supplies and tools. this is monumental education.

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad I could help!

[@TMatt007]

I will never get tired of the hook of the week. Thank you John.

[@williamhowells2059]

I like it, nice ideas for railroad spikes. Thank you

[@cajunpipesmoker1519]

As always, very informative! Thank you

[@danbreyfogle8486]

Your advice about the railroad right of way is so spot on. A friend of mine got a call from the county sheriff to "come get your son, you'll need a lawyer." The young man decided that, like his friends, taking a short cut across town on a short trestle (not more than 20 foot long) was a good thing. The RR reported him and he was charged with trespass, got a suspended sentence, community service, and a $500 fine. An expensive lesson. I have been looking at RR spikes hooks for a project and see lots of designs, but none like yours John. Great series, keep it going...

[@BlackBearForge]

Its not the first time I've heard about someone being fined. Of course there are also regular instances of fatal accidents involving people on the right away. So the fine is better.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Thank you Mr. John

[@stevemoore5053]

I signed up with KZbin to be able to leave a comment on your page and just not hit the like button. Thank you for doing ( hook of the week). Great teacher.

[@brysonalden5414]

Sunday morning with sweet tea, the hook of the week, and life can't get much better. But wait, spike hooks? Life just got better! I get mine from a landscaping supply place that sells railroad ties to homeowners building retaining walls, etc. I pay 25 cents apiece for them, and buy them by the bucket. Good source of cheap practice steel.

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

Simple yet cool hook ideas.

[@BCM1959]

We took a little train ride just south of Yosemite earlier this year and I asked what they did with the pile of old spikes. They let me grab a handful which I plan on using for my first attempts at blacksmithing. I now think I should make some hooks before I try making a knife. Thank you for the ideas!

[@20mcarroll02]

I really like the last one. I think I'm going to take that idea and make a standing coat/hat rack. I'm lucky that where I work we own a private rail siding and have no problems getting spikes, tie plates, etc from the maintenance crew from CN.

[@scotthaddad563]

When I was a young lad, I fished a lot under railroad bridges and alway marveled at the amount of iron items that were discarded there when they rebuilt those bridges. One time I saw a metal bucket full of brand new spikes busted open on the rocks below one bridge. The crew probably weren’t all that interested in going after them after dropping that heavy bucket.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks John for sharing your hook of the week. Sure is fun watching and learning from you.

[@rhinomite5203]

I was hoping you were going to open a beer with that last one before it became a boring ole hook.....Love watching your shop work, great teacher

[@threeriversforge1997]

I make a ton of railroad spike hooks every year for customers and the best source I've found so far is on ebay. Seriously. I get spikes for right at a dollar a piece delivered to my door. The mailman hates when I do that, I'm sure, but the spikes are clean, new and often still have that bluish tint on them. Keystone Spikes is the last maker of spikes in America. They supply a lot of smiths, but I've never bought directly from them. They do offer extra-long spikes that I'm keen to experiment with.

[@BlackBearForge]

Good imformation

[@tobyjo57]

I always like Hook of The Week Cheers John

[@richardsolomon8076]

Nice job John they look great

[@douglasfathers4848]

The second hook would look nice as set of 5 on a stand tree of cut .I notice a few comments saying you are a great teacher , well John I have learned moore watching your videos than any other source of information .So thank you for taking the time for sharing with as .

[@BlackBearForge]

I am glad the videos help

[@jimtalbot3989]

I also liked the last hook, actually the first one is good too. I have a couple, now You’ve given me a good idea for them other than just making knives. Thanks again for teaching us

[@scarface-39]

I currently work as a Locomotive engineer, I see spikes by the ton everywhere along the tracks, my cousin makes spurs , one of his first pair were made out of spikes they turned out very nice!!👍

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Thank you for the ideas. I have a bunch of spikes and have never even heated on up, looks like a good reason to get at her....

[@codymartinn5796]

I can't think of any of your videos that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed it's like talking to any of the wise old metal workers iv had the opportunity to work with👌👍 from a central canadian aspiring artisan keep it up and thanks for all of the awesome and knowledgeable content

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Hello John The spikes are a very good idea And i will try it too Thank you for this hook of the week Good bless you John Yours Frank

[@AZjuggler]

Those look very cool

[@LinusGustafsson]

Cool project, might try that!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Great video John, i have a bunch of railroad spikes, and i am always looking for ideas!!

[@tinkmarshino]

Dang John, you have been doing this so long that you make it seem like I could just pop out to my shop and throw these together and be done in 15 minutes.. smooth John boy.. very smooth.. My hearty thanks to you for showing me you skills that I may enjoy them and be satisfied.. Carry on!

[@BlackBearForge]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tinkmarshino]

@@BlackBearForge I always do..

[@thedixonway]

I always pick up a new technique or idea watching your videos. Thanks again John!!

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Railroad spikes might be a good video topic for you to show beginning Smith's what all they can do with them. Maybe even make some railroad spike tongs too.

[@danielcrawford7315]

My arm hurts just thinking about all that drawing it out lmbo. Actually have 2 sets of tongs from railspikes from James Duncan Sprinkled Donut Forge

[@demastust.2277]

I've made RR spike tongs. Drawing out isn't too bad for me. Also, they feel A LOT different from normal mild steel tongs. They don't have much flex to them when you grip your stock and from my experience they tend to feel vibratory in the hand.

[@jimtalbot3989]

Or does Mr. Roberts mean tongs to hold the spikes?

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

I did mean tongs to hold the railroad spikes sorry. I know bolt jaw tongs work great. But there are some specific tongs for holding railroad spikes that I dont remember john ever making. You can buy blanks from Ken's custom iron that he sells. Or I'm sure John could smith a set without the pre cut blanks.

[@demastust.2277]

When ever I make something from railspikes, I usually hold it in 5/8ths square stock tongs holding tongs and forge the head of the spike back into the body. I don't really care for leaving that thing on, because I'd like to get as much material out of the thing as possible. I don't make knives from the stuff, because it's not really good for that and lopping the head off is wasteful. Cold shuts are something to watch out for, so I have to prep the material by grinding away spots of the head that I know will become a cold shut.

[@ronaldcubero8268]

My God, so much knowledge, thank you very much.

[@SuperJaXXas]

Excellent, this is the hook of the week I've been waiting for, thank you!

[@dereksstuff8395]

Nice job

[@danielcrawford7315]

Pretty easy hooks. Sure enough heavy duty. Heck those are stout enough to hang up your in laws on.... 🙏be blessed Mr. John Crawford out 🧙‍♂️

[@Whipple1]

Daniel Crawford, Do you have a shop someplace? Your name sounds familiar to me. I’m in Pennsylvania. Cheers! Whipple

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@Whipple1 , no sirSir I don't. I'm a drilling rig mover in west Texas

[@Whipple1]

Daniel Crawford . Ah, I see. Perhaps I’ve seen your comments on some of the KZbin channels that we both watch. I do a little part time leasing in the Marcellus and shallow gas fields of western, Pennsylvania. Small world, right? Stay safe out there in the patch. Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers! Whipple

[@fauseth]

Thank you John.

[@dragonwaterforge]

Great vid and while I'm at it I've never seen a good vid on making a railroad spike

[@stanervin6108]

You can use a rail tie plate as a 'nail header'.

[@johnjude2685]

Great a day late for my fix. Thanks always something more to learn

[@scottreynolds4827]

I like your style. I use the spike head as the hook. Punching two hols in the shank and slightly bending said shank.

[@stevesyncox9893]

Always great stuff man, thanks.

[@sbjennings99]

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls

[@cuttwice3905]

Spike #2 when filed smooth would be an ideal place to hang a hat.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Thank you for mentioning the legalities of spike acquisition. I comment on things like this and folks having U.S. Postal bins/ totes because many people have them and argue with me about having these things in their videos. The postal bins are postal property and if the postal service finds them in use for other than postal intentions, that carries a fine of up to $1000.00 and a year in jail, per unit. Not sure what the possession of rail road property fines and incarceration are, but in can be trespassing, like you said, plus possession of stolen property charges. This is a situation where it is definitely better to ask than to beg forgiveness. Nice hooks, and thanks again.

[@DrunkenDwarfIron]

Really loved that first tennoned hook. Would love to see what a few of those look like in a wooden backboard together. Shame US sytle RR spikes are a lot harder to come by here in the UK (not impossible, but no-where near as cost effective as a beginner material)

[@BlackBearForge]

it never occured to me that the spikes were different in other parts of the world

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Never thought of usen spikes 2 make hooks. Thanks

[@williamsultana3848]

Hi John

[@paulklapatauskas6135]

Thank you for mentioning the fact that trespassing on a railroad track is illegal. My wife works for a railroad and most people think it's public property. They are dangerous to be around and taking spikes from an active line can be catastrophic.

[@donnarhill1932]

Nice!

[@jimtalbot3989]

Wow. Look at these comments, and the inspired conversations! 🤔

[@Zogg1281]

I really like the last hook 👍 I don't think they use the same style of railway spike in the UK, but if I can find some, I want to try making a knife with one. I'm thinking of inserting a high carbon steel bit into the blade and then sticking it in Feric Chloride. I have seen someone making railway spike, so possibly a wrought iron spike and etched until you can really see the grain in the iron...... a bit like the leather cutting knife Alec Steele made a couple of years ago, by forgetting it and only pulling it out of the Feric Chloride the next morning LOL It looked amazing. How did I go from hooks to knives?!?!?!?!? Thanks for getting the creative cogs going again 😁👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@BlackBearForge]

It never occured to me that the spikes in the UK were different

[@robertwhitney2232]

Hi John, I enjoy all your videos, educational. I have noticed that your anvil has been repaired by welding on. Could you explain a little more about the repairs. I have an anvil in need of such repairs, the top edges is in poor shape. Thanks

[@jimtalbot3989]

Mine as well. That would be a good topic

[@BlackBearForge]

I didn't make the repair on this anvil it was done before I bought it. Generally people use hard surfacing rod, but it requires preheating the anvil, slow cooling lots of grinding then repeat for everything that has a little void or undercut. Its lots of work. There are articles online that describe the process in better detail.

[@cojones8518]

4:10 More "Drop Forging". :D

[@karatedojonz]

I find you videos extremely useful. I have a small problem I am trying to sort out. I make sai (a karate weapon) I make a hole using a using a punch in the hilt which is a friction fit on the shaft. When I fire weld the 2 pieces together the hole elongates and I end up with a gap either side of the shaft. This is a weak point in the sai. Do you have any ideas i could use to close the gaps? Regards Steve

[@BlackBearForge]

I'm really not sure what you're referring to. Would it be possible to punch the hole after welding? Or perhaps punch smaller then drift to final size after welding

[@karatedojonz]

Black Bear Forge thank you for getting back to me. I will put a couple of pictures up on the Facebook page.

[@CalvinMurdock]

I know it’s off topic but did you ever instal your ribbon burner? If so do you like/prefer it? Thanks for your thoughts!

[@BlackBearForge]

I haven't completed that project yet

[@jkt1960]

Hey John, Love the hooks as usual. I notice that you let most of your projects air cool even though it's not hardenable steel. What's the reason behind that? Thanks as always for your excellent videos!

[@BlackBearForge]

Even non hardenable materials can develop stress that might cause trouble. Not a big risk, but why take the chance. In the case of Rail spike they are typically a medium carbon that does get harder

[@tacticalrabbit308]

Can you put screw threads on a hook to screw into a tree for climbing or holding items

[@BlackBearForge]

You cold although I have never tried cutting wood screw threads

[@robertoswalt319]

I would be cautious about using one for climbing since there is a possibility of the spike shearing off at the tenon and causing a fall injury.

[@5x535]

@@BlackBearForge Couldn't a person simply hammer it flat--maybe 3/8ths wide X 1/8th thick and twist it and come up with a simple "lag bolt" kind of thread?

[@tacticalrabbit308]

@@5x535 would it be possible to make a guillotine tool to form the threads

[@jimtalbot3989]

They are spikes, maybe draw them out a bit longer

[@AZ-kr6ff]

Would you just glue/epoxy the tenon into it's base?

[@BlackBearForge]

For a coat rack, that would probably work

[@alext.7313]

I think the idea of threading the tenon end to accommodate a nut on the backside of a base would be a cool idea too. The live edge base with a larger countersunk hole in the back would likely do the trick and allow the base to sit flush on a wall.

[@AZ-kr6ff]

@@alext.7313 I was thinking that too, Alex. 👍

[@charlesvickrey1509]

How does he keep anvil so quiet?

[@jimtalbot3989]

He did a video on that

[@robertmeuser843]

Could you actually make a railroad spike from 3/4" square steel rod for us. I think that would be interesting to do. I'm going to try it myself.

[@sladoeii]

Look further back in the video history, he already did this to make a little knife.

[@stanervin6108]

Another source of cheap stock for projects is used horseshoes.

[@bloviatingbeluga8553]

Rareoad

[@southerndad8717]

He said it was legal

[@rg5252-y2v]

What..first.

[@grandadz_forge]

You just ruined my day. LOL

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@grandadz_forge lol 😂

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

@@grandadz_forge am hell late today was at work.

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

👏👏👏👏

[@grandadz_forge]

@@gurvinderkau1e5w18 lol

[@theking11029]

This needs music. All of your presentation would be done nicer if you use less volume on the hammering and more on the feeling of the pkg😎

[@stevemoore5053]

Me, I like it without music.

[@jimhumphrey]

A hammer hitting hot metal is music!

[@Whipple1]

What? Music over a smithing video? No way.

[@mandolinman2006]

He's tried adding music, but a lot of people got upset. Plus, it's hard to add music when you're giving instructions like he is without it sounding kinda choppy.

[@theking11029]

mandolinman2006 nah you need a better editor. This can be derided with hard 🎸 rock. Yeah 🤘🏻

[@daretodreamtofly3288]

I do like the videos and apparent the work they must take. But you seem so rushed today. I hope everything is alright, and if you find yourself in this situation again that you might just make a post on KZbin and give yourself time. I'd hate for you to get hurt again.