Author Topic: Making stuff from junk  (Read 7965 times)

Offline David R. Pennington

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2885
Making stuff from junk
« on: May 09, 2019, 10:38:29 PM »
Old wrought iron wagon wheel hub band and plowshare into hatchet. It looks like it welded up nice but still a little hammer work, filing and heat treatment needed. I like welding them up this way sandwiched. I feel like I can draw the temper just a scosh harder than all steel.



VITA BREVIS- ARS LONGA

Offline Robert Wolfe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1267
  • Great X Grandpa
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2019, 01:30:14 AM »
Nice - I'll have to give that a shot.
Robert Wolfe
Northern Indiana

Offline Greg Pennell

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1519
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2019, 07:04:48 AM »
I’ve a small stack of plowshares in my stash...good to know they can be useful!

Greg
“Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks” Thomas Jefferson

Offline David R. Pennington

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2885
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2019, 01:55:26 PM »
They are generally good steel. I pick them up when I can at the flea markets. The wrought iron makes the job easier as it will stand more heat and protects the steel somewhat while you’re welding.
VITA BREVIS- ARS LONGA

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9300
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2019, 11:42:00 PM »

I am really good at making junk from perfectly good materials and have been
doing it for years. ;D

Bob Roller

Offline David R. Pennington

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2885
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2019, 12:00:13 AM »
I’ve done my share of that also Bob. I just don’t take pictures of those jobs. The resident blacksmith at Heritage Farm recently did a big spring cleaning of the blacksmith shop. He said he gathered up a great pile of “abortions” tucked away all over the shop. (Projects aborted by apprentice smiths in which the material is ruined.)
VITA BREVIS- ARS LONGA

Offline heelerau

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 666
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2019, 02:27:05 AM »
That  will be a pretty neat job. I have a large collection of railway spike and some other bits and pieces. I would think old circular saw and chaff cutter blades would make good steel for axes too.
Keep yor  hoss well shod an' yor powdah dry !

Offline will payne

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 349
  • AKA dead eye/ Coder /Ethical Hacker
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2019, 02:16:41 AM »
That's a really nice axe head. Thanks for sharing. That kind of gives me some ideas with a medal trade point.
Will
🕯
Will


"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -Thomas Jefferson

Offline eggwelder

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 68
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2020, 06:59:49 AM »
Old thread i know. Make these from junk- old crowbars, RR spikes, Corolla springs, etc



Offline Hungry Horse

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5394
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2020, 08:44:48 PM »
Somebody gave me a couple of long sections of sawmill band saw blade. Boy, that and a couple of feet of old iron tire off of a buggy, sure make a nice laminated knife blade. It welds up easily, and is flexible, and holds a good edge.

  Hungry Horse

Offline heelerau

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 666
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2020, 12:04:39 AM »
Nice to see my axes come out like your two bottom ones. I have lots of railway spikes to practise with fortunately
Keep yor  hoss well shod an' yor powdah dry !

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9300
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2020, 03:12:49 PM »
Nice to see  ;D ;Dmy axes come out like your two bottom ones. I have lots of railway spikes to practise with fortunately

Was this with permission from the railroad or? ;D ;D. I remember reading about
Trains being derailed so guns could be made from the steel somewhere in the world.
Bob Roller

Offline longcruise

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1819
  • Arvada, Colorado
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2020, 05:04:45 PM »
An area i hunt is bordered by tracks.   It’s surprising how many are lying between and alongside the tracks.   
Mike Lee

Offline eggwelder

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 68
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2020, 04:21:23 AM »
My spikes came from decommissioned CN rail lines. Piles of them, couldn`t take them all

Offline heelerau

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 666
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2020, 01:52:03 PM »
Bob I think you are referring to Afganistan in the days of the British Raj.  The trucks bringing anhydrous ammonia to the plant where I work, would bring a bag of railway spikes that were from a rusted out 44 gal drum at the rail head about 20 miles south of the plant.  I will in fact fire up the forge early next week when my brother in law comes to stay for a day or two . More hoof picks and I will finish off the axes.
Keep yor  hoss well shod an' yor powdah dry !

Offline David R. Pennington

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2885
Re: Making stuff from junk
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2020, 01:02:47 PM »
I have a bucket of spikes given to me by a rail road employee. Best use I’ve found for them is to make nail headers. I usually case harden the business end.
VITA BREVIS- ARS LONGA