Finding and Identifying Wrought Iron along the Railroad

For the most efficient form of transportation, the Railroads are awfully wasteful with their steel. Luckily for aspiring blacksmiths, this means infinite free railroad spikes, and if the tracks are old enough, wrought iron as well. This video shows how I tell it apart from newer plain steel.

[EngineersWorkshop]

Didn't realize that spikes were once made of wrought iron... and I have to remember your closing quote! 😁

[bankfishingislife]

need a cheap metal detector and you will probably find a lot of em in the leaf area. nice video. i think i might have found a older one today ill have to look through the ones i found and double check but i think it looked different then the rest. that art project looked cool! cool video. liked how you showed the grinding of each also.

[anthonyfelli]

Your videos are awesome - thanks for making them.

[Eldormen]

I have never seen spikes in the wild so to say. but on the other hand, I haven't walked on railroad tracks that often. unfortunately, after a check, most rail lines were converted to new tracks except a short line that happens to be in my hometown.

[Chicken_Wing]

My parents were digging new waterline’s to the house and found one underground but the odd thing is there are no railroads near my house or any signs of one ever being there

[raidersader]

This is awesome and exactly the video I was looking for

[Zamyplays]

I wonder how much iron is used for the spikes plates and rails for the traintracks

[seanshields]

What are the flat pieces of metal I find bent into a sharp V that has 3 small holes in them.

[JohnMiddendorf]

What years do you reckon the wrought iron spikes were more common?

[paducahandlouisvillerailro]

1850 railroad spikes are made of wrought iron

[randallradford]

How do you melt the old railroad spikes I mean can you make a furnace to melt them

[dannyeckerd]

That's what sucks about living in the city it's hard to do this without getting fined😢

[K.og_Blades]

The only down side to this is in some places you will get fined for trespassing

[jasonholloway]

Would you be willing to sell a wrought iron spike? I tried finding a way to DM you but can't find any info.

[paducahandlouisvillerailro]

A j5loh marked Railroad spike is wrought iron

[crazyDIYguy]

Why is wrought iron so sought out by the blacksmith's? I can't find an answer really.

[Monty]

…and I don’t know why I’m watching this!! 😂

[randallradford]

Well most people out in TV Land don't know what in the hell is the difference it would be nice if maybe he would explain he's going into such a big montage of whether it's iron or steel why don't he explained what makes the difference

[RafaelGuadalupe-bu]

HOLY COW IN MY HOUSE I have removed one

[garethbaus]

Picking up old spikes next to the tracks is legally questionable, you can find useable metal but it is legally classified as theft.