Everything Mac Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Hi gents, I was just wondering if either of these steels would make for a "better" punch? Say a simple round punch and better in terms of tougher/ more robust or requiring less frequent touching up... Regards Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I prefer coil spring mostly because it takes much less forging. Axle makes good bottom tools and handled top tools. Leaf spring is god for hacks and such, I'm getting less and less fond of leaf spring. It's good steel but generally requires more forging than coil, even for blades.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 As spring is generaly higher in carbon/harder i use it more for punches, chisels etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Coil spring generally makes very good cold punches. I have several center punches and cold chisels that I made almost 30 years ago which have held up extremely well in regular use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickb Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Car/truck coil springs versus axels.I think I would just use the one that tales the least forging. As long as you are using the tools on properly heated stock it doesn't make much difference.Crow bars and/or digger bars made in the United States are also excellentI found a couple or old rusty digger bars and made hot chisels, cold chisels. and all kinds of punches, hardy cutoff tools. I don't harden anything that's used on hot iron. They work fine and a quick lick with a file is all you ever need to dress them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Axles make good hammers too.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Springs for punches, axles for hammers and fullers. Sharpening steels, for carving knives, also make great punches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WL smith Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I agree with dickb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 Cheers chaps. Just wondered. I've used coil spring on all the punches I've made to date but picked up some axle recently. Sadly it's too small to make a hammer from. Doesn't Brian Brazeal make his cut off hardies from axle? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJergensen Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Axle should work well for a hardie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macca Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Slight hijack:I haven't done it yet, but, was told by another boilermaker that the jaw portion of a stillson wrench makes for an excellent chisel. Process is to remove the 'jaw' portion of the jaw, leaving the knurled/sectioned part ready for forging. 36" stillsons make the best chisel due to size, and 'feel'.I have collected a couple of jaws ready for an attempt to check this out. Reckon it will prove right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 More slight hijack: Pavement breaker bits make great hardies - especially with the built in collar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I used the other end of the bit as it was already shaped like a hardy (and broken off the shaft a couple inches down) so All I had to do was to forge it down to fit the hardy hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everything Mac Posted June 26, 2015 Author Share Posted June 26, 2015 I'll use the axle to make a little hot cut for my fisher. It should be just about big enough for that. Might need to upset it a tad, but nothing major. Cheers guysAll the best Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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