Is railroad rail steel hard

[DPittman]

I mean is it hard to cut? I've got an ancient old broken chunk I want to straighten up the busted off end. I will be using my band saw but don't want to attempt if it's crazy hard stuff. I'm going to be using the piece for a small anvil.

 

[YYCHM]

How does it react to a file?

 

[Darren]

usually extremely hard on the rail surface from work hardening. Abrasive cutting is probably the way to go.

 

[crittermutt]

Check out west weld on YouTube
Episode machining rail road track.

 

[phaxtris]

Rail road track are medium carbon steel, so some what hard, hard enough it breaks and doesnt bend

 

[whydontu]

Last time I did it, it trashed the bandsaw blade pretty quickly. And this was on a Hydmech H22A machine with a 10HP motor. Lenox HRX bi-metal blade.

 

[Darren]

Last time I did it, it trashed the bandsaw blade pretty quickly. And this was on a Hydmech H22A machine with a 10HP motor. Lenox HRX bi-metal blade.

Same experience as me. Probably a bit of a difference depending upon age of the track and its probably not all the same alloys to begin with

 

[Alexander]

I have cut a fair bit of rail using torch, a rail saw and a horizontal Bandsaw. Even my small Bandsaw works ok as long as I run the blade on the slowest setting and use lots of coolant.

 

[DPittman]

Cut no problem with band saw.

 

[Susquatch]

I've cut lots and lots of track over the years. I got a 20ft piece 30 years ago and I made anvils for friends and family out if it. I recently got another shorter piece that I cut up the same way.

Just go get the biggest cutting tip that your OA torch and bottle size can handle and have at it. A side grinder will clean up the cut edge just fine.

 

[Aliva]

The railroads use a portable cut off saw with an abrasive blade to cut track to final dimensions prior to splicing. Then use a gas powered annular cutter for the bolt holes.
Since this is used track I would think the top of the track will be work hardened. you just got to get thru that fop layer.
I worked in a foundry that used track for stock to cast brake rotors, they would cut the first couple of inches from the top of the track down with OA, then lift the piece up about 10 feet and drop it, snapped in half.

 

[Former Member]

On railway steel it is important to note that there is a difference between between old pre '70's (going by memory here so it might be off a little) steel and newer steel. The older steel is all very similar and the scrap was re-used as rebar in construction because it was very predictable. The newer steel has different characteristics because it was using modern formulations and they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and has made it difficult for a few years as they learned the new properties and how to correct them.

As to cutting steel or any metal (in any method) it comes down to cut speed, pressure, cooling and lubricant. Select right life is good, select wrong......(fill in your own words here).

Truth of the matter is you should be ok.

 

[DPittman]

Well I may have lucked out and got a softer piece. I probably would not have attempted to cut with band saw had I read all the posts before going ahead. I'm pretty sure the chunk I got would definitely be pre 1970, but I'm guessing.

 

[Susquatch]

Well I may have lucked out and got a softer piece. I probably would not have attempted to cut with band saw had I read all the posts before going ahead. I'm pretty sure the chunk I got would definitely be pre 1970, but I'm guessing.

Many an impossible thing has been done by someone who didn't know it was impossible.

Glad it worked out for you!