Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
working on.
Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
ruin the spike.
Regards,
Rick
"Scaramouche" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:E%[email protected]...
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
Carve a notch to fit the back side of the spike head, or cut a small strip
of wood to take up the space between the body of the spike and the head and
use hot melt glue to assemble.
Another option would be to use a very thin wire to secure it to the backing
of your display. You might also get thin strips of brass or even silver and
wrap around the spike and fasten that to the back of the display.
Another way would be to make your frame deep and support the spike on a
couple of 1/8" Plexiglas rods. If you heat the end of the rods over the
stove burner slowly till they soften you can deform the end a bit to make a
little larger flat area. This flat can then be positioned to support the
spike with a little dab of epoxy or hot glue. This would give the spike a
floating appearance.
Any of these options or something similar would not require any damage to
the spike.
--
Roger Shoaf
About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.
Silvan wrote:
> John Beckman wrote:
>
> > A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an
Amtrak
> > train? When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the
throne
> > and the waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below
the car.
> > I was amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at
30
> > MPH. Then the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET
WHILE
> > IN THE STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks
again.
> > You may want to clean that spike first....
>
> The advantage of living in an area that hasn't seen a passenger train
in
> decades I guess.
>
> Is that a recent story? Is it *really* true?
>
> There's a 70,000 acre Boy Scout camp near here that's having to spend
a
> bazillion dollars to replace all their latrines with septic systems.
> Something about the EPA or CDC having a cow about /E. coli/
contamination
> or something. Seems to me these Amtrak folks would face similar
scrutiny
> in spades. Not to mention Amtrak only owns a tiny fraction of the
trackage
> they run on. If I were Norfolk Southern or CSX or BNSF or UP, I'd be
> pretty pissed about Amtrak crapping on my tracks. Especially if I
were a
> MOW worker (maintenance of way) for one of those outfits, like most
of my
> wife's relations are.
>
> If it's true, maybe we can get a class action lawsuit going on behalf
of all
> railroad employees, and all relatives of all railroad employees, and
see if
> Amtrak can buy me a bandsaw. :)
>
> --
> Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
> Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
> http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/
This is John again posting from work.
My one man datapoint was the a trip on the AMTRAK "Cresent". This train
goes from NY City to New Orleans. We got on in Charlotte, NC and Off in
Birmingham, AL. I wanted to take the kids on a real train trip before
they all the trains dissapeared. This was probably in 1990. Havn't been
on one since so I assume that this would be a rare event now but who
knows.....
John Beckman
>
>Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
>working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
>would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
>working on.
>Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
>thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
>through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
>thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
>ruin the spike.
>
>Regards,
>Rick
>
>
Make a shelf out of handrail molding and just lay the spike on it or cut a
square mortise in the handrail and put the spike thru it. The handrail has a
cross section that resembles railroad track.
HTH
Big John
Take out the TRASH for E-mail.
Hi Rick,
I made a display case out of cherry a couple of months ago
(12x18x3) to display a 1780 (or so) muzzle loading
pistol that my father-in-law gave us. Sort of a shadow
box with a glass front.
Anyway, I had the same problem. I used 3/8 inch ply
as the backboard (which I eventually covered with felt).
To mount the gun, I drilled a couple of holes in two
locations (barrel, handle areas) which were close
enough together so that they would be hidden by the
gun itself.
I then used cable ties which I pulled tight around
the gun and out the back where I cinched them up.
At this point, I just used the ties I had on hand, but
I will replace these with black colored ones which
they sell at audio stores when I get time. There are
other colors as well.
Anyhow, this worked fine and the gun does not
shift/move at all when we move the case around.
Lou
In article <E%[email protected]>,
Scaramouche <[email protected]> wrote:
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
In article <[email protected]>, Nova
<[email protected]> wrote:
> John Beckman wrote:
>
> > A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an Amtrak train?
> > When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the throne and the
> > waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below the car. I was
> > amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at 30 MPH. Then
> > the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET WHILE IN THE
> > STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks again. You may
> > want to clean that spike first....
>
Rode the Acela a couple times BWI to Boston back bay and the heads look
and act just like an airliner.
Even got to ride in the locomotive for an hour at 90 mph or so through
Conn and New York but another story.
Allen
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:41:08 GMT, Scaramouche <[email protected]> wrote:
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
a loop of wire around it below the head, and another near the point?
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
If you want to go that way, I'd suggest drilling and tapping a couple of
holes into the side of the spike that'll go closest to the wood, and secure
it that way. Not sure about the metallurgy of a railroad spike, but I think
it'd be a pretty easy cutting substance. Maybe something around a #10-24
thread. You could maybe space it out with some brass sleeves around the
screws, just to dress it up and hold it square to the display piece.
Dave Hinz
>
> Regards,
> Rick
John Beckman wrote:
> A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an Amtrak
> train? When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the throne
> and the waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below the car.
> I was amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at 30
> MPH. Then the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET WHILE
> IN THE STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks again.
> You may want to clean that spike first....
The advantage of living in an area that hasn't seen a passenger train in
decades I guess.
Is that a recent story? Is it *really* true?
There's a 70,000 acre Boy Scout camp near here that's having to spend a
bazillion dollars to replace all their latrines with septic systems.
Something about the EPA or CDC having a cow about /E. coli/ contamination
or something. Seems to me these Amtrak folks would face similar scrutiny
in spades. Not to mention Amtrak only owns a tiny fraction of the trackage
they run on. If I were Norfolk Southern or CSX or BNSF or UP, I'd be
pretty pissed about Amtrak crapping on my tracks. Especially if I were a
MOW worker (maintenance of way) for one of those outfits, like most of my
wife's relations are.
If it's true, maybe we can get a class action lawsuit going on behalf of all
railroad employees, and all relatives of all railroad employees, and see if
Amtrak can buy me a bandsaw. :)
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/
Last time I was on an Amtrak they had the blue stuff in a holding tank crapper
like on the plane. That was quite a while ago (25 years?) on the milk run
between DC and NYC (not the Metroliner). I rode the train every day for a year
between Elizabeth and Penn Station. Took it to DC once.
I imagine if you had the "dump on the track" toilet on a 80 MPH trane it would
collect on the back glass of the bar car.
I know in the 50s-60s you could look down the crapper and see the ties go by.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a thing
> on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill through the
> spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any thoughts on this
> idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to ruin the spike.
I'd suggest what others suggested. Drill holes in the "back" and then tap
them to accept a bolt from behind.
Since you're a wood guy, I'd suggest looking up the proper RPM rates. Check
out my page below which has some of that:
http://www.multi-drill.com/drill-speed-chart.htm
You'll have to also figure out what size you want to drill prior to tapping.
Someone over in rec.crafts.metalworking probably has those #s memorized.
Otherwise, I can look them up for you Monday. I'll have that chart up in a
few weeks. :)
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
http://www.autodrill.com
http://www.multi-spindle-heads.com
V8013
Scaramouche wrote:
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW).
SNIP
> I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
Then don't. Step over to your forge, make apair "Snidley
Whiplash" mustaches with twists in the center. Pin the ends to
the back board and place the twists over the spike to hold it
against the board.
Dave in Fairfax
--
Dave Leader
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/
PATINA
http://www.Patinatools.org/
Swingman wrote:
> "Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
>
> > Any of these options or something similar would not require any damage to
> > the spike.
>
> I can't take it anymore .. just have to ask. Did I miss a sudden RR spike
> shortage, or move by the RR cartel to make these things desirable collectors
> items that are worthy of such efforts? Does eBay know about this?
>
> Inquiring minds ... and all that. :)
I'm glad you asked as I was wondering the same thing although I've pick up a
number if railroad spikes myself this year. Truck tires are expensive.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
John Beckman wrote:
> A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an Amtrak train?
> When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the throne and the
> waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below the car. I was
> amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at 30 MPH. Then
> the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET WHILE IN THE
> STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks again. You may
> want to clean that spike first....
Nice story but I spend about 50% of my workday on railroad property. No waste
is discharged from passenger trains.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
Scaramouche wrote:
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
Then don't do anything to the spike. Mount it by squeezing
it; use your imagination on how to shape the wood to do
that. Personally, I would use a couple of iron straps and
mount flat on a board that contrast with the spike. Beat
the straps into shape with a ball peen hammer, or at least
peen them after shaping, drill, paint with a matte or
semigloss black paint.
A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an Amtrak train?
When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the throne and the
waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below the car. I was
amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at 30 MPH. Then
the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET WHILE IN THE
STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks again. You may
want to clean that spike first....
john
"Scaramouche" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:E%[email protected]...
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a thing
> on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill through the
> spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any thoughts on this
> idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
"John Beckman" wrote in message
> A bit off subject BUT have you ever been in the bathroom on an Amtrak
train?
> When you flush, a plate swings away from the bottom of the throne and the
> waste is flushed out onto the tracks zipping along below the car. I was
> amazed, standing there watching those RR ties flying along at 30 MPH. Then
> the sign above the pot made sense, "DO NOT USE THE TOILET WHILE IN THE
> STATION". I vowed then and there to NEVER walk the tracks again. You may
> want to clean that spike first....
Hell, in many parts of Asia what's found on the tracks is simply more
fertilizer for the vegetable garden.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04
Scaramouche wrote:
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
Thank you all for your valuable advice. I've decided to attach the rr
spike to the display board via wooden dowels. I will epoxy the dowels to
the spike, then glue them to the board...it's more cost effective this
way and I believe it'll work.
The tapping option was quite interesting, but I would have to go out and
purchase a tap & die set, which I've never used.
Once again, thank you.
Happy Holidays,
Rick
Scaramouche <[email protected]> wrote in news:E%ryd.185496$6w6.154263
@tornado.tampabay.rr.com:
> I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws
Railroad spikes are pretty soft (I've bent plenty of the darn things),
so this would certainly be feasable. As someone else said, you could
drill a stopped hole & tap it...if you wanted to mount the spike flat
on a surface, that would probably be the cleanest thing.
Otherwise, the natural orientation of a spike is vertical, sticking
out of a hole in a piece of wood (to wit, a railroad tie). You
could make a square hole & stick it in, using a wedge to anchor
it in the hole.
John
[email protected] wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> nah. just get a big 'ol hammer and drive it in....
"Spike maul" is the tool you're looking for, and it's harder to do
than you might think (mighty satisfying, tho, when you get the range
& rhythm right, and sink it with three blows).
John
Joe Willmann <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Epoxy will handle it. Epoxy a small piece of wood/metal/plastic to the
> hidden side. Drill and tap that. If you change your mind it is easy to
> get the epoxy off. Heat will do it.
>
Conversely, epoxy the heads of two small bolts so that they will extend
thru the back of the board. Finish with nut and washer.
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:41:08 GMT, Scaramouche
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
>thing on-line,
Go to the shop and buy one....
Plumber's solder is pewter (for the modern lead-free variants of
both). You may already have some of this in your toolbox, or it's
handy home-repair/workshop stuff anyway. It's a thick wire, about 1/8"
thick and a little _light_ tapping (8oz hammer on an anvil of a piece
of flat concrete) will turn it into a usable length of flat,
rectangular pewter strapping.
Drill a couple of pairs of holes in a wooden plaque, one pair above
the other, thread loops of this pewter strap through each pair, pull
tight round your spike and twist the back to tie it off.
--
Smert' spamionam
Gorilla glue.
"Scaramouche" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:E%[email protected]...
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a thing
> on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill through the
> spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any thoughts on this
> idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
Go to your local craft store or jeweler and get some spiffy wire or cable --
run a loop thru a plaque and hang it on the wall.
Matthew
"Scaramouche" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:E%[email protected]...
> Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> working on.
> Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a thing
> on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill through the
> spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any thoughts on this
> idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to ruin the spike.
>
> Regards,
> Rick
If this is a rusty railroad spike I would hang it with rusty concrete tie wire.
If you wipe them with a little light machine oil you do get a nice patina.
I have a spike I am saving too, from the pre-WWII era RR tracks, long gone from
behind my house. It is not the value of an anonymous spike, it is one you found
and can put into historical context.
Agree on Alaska. I spent a few weeks there on vacation. Flew into Fairbanks,
rented a van and flew out of Anchorage 2000 miles later. Historic stuff is mid
state, touristy "must sees" are mostly in the Kenai. Try to get to Homer to see
the anti-Seward.
"Homer, A quaint drinking village with a fishing problem".
"Roger Shoaf" wrote in message
> Any of these options or something similar would not require any damage to
> the spike.
I can't take it anymore .. just have to ask. Did I miss a sudden RR spike
shortage, or move by the RR cartel to make these things desirable collectors
items that are worthy of such efforts? Does eBay know about this?
Inquiring minds ... and all that. :)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:41:08 GMT, Scaramouche
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
>working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
>would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
>working on.
>Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
>thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
>through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
>thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
>ruin the spike.
>
>Regards,
>Rick
maybe route the mounting board or whatever to fit the spike and put a
glass or plastic picture frame type front to hold it in?
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 05:55:40 GMT, mac davis <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:41:08 GMT, Scaramouche
> ><[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >>Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
> >>working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
> >>would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
> >>working on.
> >>Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
> >>thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
> >>through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
> >>thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
> >>ruin the spike.
> >>
> >>Regards,
> >>Rick
> >maybe route the mounting board or whatever to fit the spike and put a
> >glass or plastic picture frame type front to hold it in?
>
> nah. just get a big 'ol hammer and drive it in....
... but ya gotta sing while ya do it.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 05:55:40 GMT, mac davis <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:41:08 GMT, Scaramouche
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Picked up a RR spike while on vacation in AK (awesome place BTW). I'm
>>working on this wood project that's going to display such spike, and I
>>would like some suggestions on how to fasten it to the display board I'm
>>working on.
>>Wanted some type of pewter fastener but I cannot seem to find such a
>>thing on-line, sooo....I was wondering if it was feasible to drill
>>through the spike so as to attach it with a couple of screws...any
>>thoughts on this idea? I have a drill press but I really do not want to
>>ruin the spike.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Rick
>maybe route the mounting board or whatever to fit the spike and put a
>glass or plastic picture frame type front to hold it in?
nah. just get a big 'ol hammer and drive it in....