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After reading the current material on spiking rail it seems that the most common tool is the inimitable needle-nose pliers. The problem, the way it seems to me, in using them is twofold:

1. Having to grip the pliers hard enough to prevent slipping.

2. And pushing the pliers with enough force to drive in the spike.

I have made some headway with both of these issues in the following manner. The pliers have a simple plywood handle added to them and a separate finishing pusher is used to seat the spike snugly against the rail. The key is to be able to make the action of pushing also act as a way to increase the pressure of gripping the spike, for the first part.

The second part is to modify a square drive screwdriver to fit over the head of the spike so that the spike can be rotated if needed to align it squarely next to the rail, as it is pushed home.

Step one is to look at the pliers you would like to use, and determine whether the handles can be used "as is" or need to be straightened. When you can use the pliers without straightening the handles all the better. I have used some pliers without straightening the handles and they do not work quite as well as the ones with the straight handles.

Click for larger picture

To soften the handles to straighten them requires heating them up to a cherry red and then letting them cool down slowly. It is important to not hurry this process by quenching the hot handles as this will only re-harden them. After the handles have cooled they can be flattened in a heavy duty vice.

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Michael Mott is the owner/operator of MikeMott Exhibit Design & Fabrication. Specializing in interactive displays for Science Centres and Museums. A long time armchair model railroader, who is finally getting going with the garden renovations, and building a garden railroad. Married to Judy, he lives in the north country of Alberta Canada.

Special interests include: Inventing scales that nobody else uses ensuring a need to scratch build. He like running marathons too! Currently the Superintendant of the Stony Plain & Seba Beach Mining and Lumber company Railroad. His other self paints watercolors.