Foxstalker Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 hey all, I have a fair few old nails, a bit less than a meter long, and i have found them on old wooden bridges around my property. i cut a section out of one and grinded all the rust off of it and i was wondering if anyone knows what steel the nails are made out of or if anyone has forged with these before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Plugga Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 Bloody big nails mate!!! The steel must be pretty hard in order to bang them in i would imagine? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxstalker Posted January 25 Author Report Share Posted January 25 6 hours ago, Double Plugga said: Bloody big nails mate!!! The steel must be pretty hard in order to bang them in i would imagine? that's what i was thinking mate, they would have to be hard to go in, therefore heat treated, therefore could be some good steel? that's my thinking anyway haha. Also that nail was cut down, it would be twice as long usually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burners Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 Maybe hit it with a centre punch and compare with a bit of mild steel, can feel if it's harder or softer than the MS? Either way it would be a cool little project. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gryphon Posted January 26 Report Share Posted January 26 (edited) 17 hours ago, Foxstalker said: they would have to be hard to go in, The spike holes in bridges were always predrilled. Usually by hand in the older ones. Edited January 26 by gryphon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxstalker Posted February 1 Author Report Share Posted February 1 On 26/1/2025 at 6:53 AM, Burners said: Maybe hit it with a centre punch and compare with a bit of mild steel, can feel if it's harder or softer than the MS? Good idea, I cut a section off the nail and hit both the nail and mild steel bar a few times, seemed to be around the same. Is there any way to properly heat treat mild steel? I also filed into the nail and it filed very easily so I’m guessing it’s quite a soft steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxstalker Posted February 1 Author Report Share Posted February 1 On 26/1/2025 at 12:49 PM, gryphon said: The spike holes in bridges were always predrilled. Usually by hand in the older ones. Seems like it, iv had a look at one of the bridges and the wood has definitely been pre drilled and chiseled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burners Posted February 3 Report Share Posted February 3 On 01/02/2025 at 10:49 PM, Foxstalker said: Good idea, I cut a section off the nail and hit both the nail and mild steel bar a few times, seemed to be around the same. Is there any way to properly heat treat mild steel? I also filed into the nail and it filed very easily so I’m guessing it’s quite a soft steel. You can heat it up and then quench it in oil or water, oil cools slower than water, the faster the quench the harder the finish but can become brittle, I'd try oil first. I can't remember the preheat temperature or colour (glowing red or straw colour?) google should be able to help with that. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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