noware

34 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

I reforged an S1 pharm punch into my favorite slitting chisel, left the top alone and just forged out the end into a lovely rocker curve. I have a handle to fit it and it's one of my most used tools.  First time to heat treat S1 and read up on it in the ASM handbook---no normalization! Which was unusual for me...

Why grind when you can forge!

Great info, i will definitely try some forging.  I was thinking the preformed top and recessed barrel would be beneficial for making strike tools.

13 hours ago, Ranchmanben said:

I'd offer him a dollar a pop and see what he says. You can always go up and he doesn't know what they're worth either. Or you can tell him to name his price and give him the old horse trader line, "I can't buy and sell this for you."

will use that saying...i hate it when people say "make an offer"...in his defense, i think he is being nice and if i said any price he'd be ok with it...just don't want to be ridiculously low.

16 minutes ago, Frosty said:

They're worth local scrap price, a few cents a pound. Unless someone consistent has large quantities of special steel the scrapper doesn't give more than steel scrap price.

A buck each is way better than they'd get from the scrappers IF they bother to do more than round file them. I'd offer a buck apiece, your buddy is probably saving them from the dumpster so a ten spot makes it worth the effort. It's not an insult, want to bet the company has rather severe policies about employees taking stuff, new or trash?

I'd jump on it even if he held out for a $20 I just wouldn't the next time he offered them. I'd love a chance to play with them.

Frosty The Lucky.

If he has/can get more, i'll send them to you if you'd like.  Flat rate shipping is pretty reasonable from MI to AK.

12 hours ago, swedefiddle said:

You are the one with the vision, you can see the glitter like the Crow. The Crow takes lots of shiney things!

I really like that!

1 hour ago, John McPherson said:

These show up wherever there is a pharmaceutical company, they get changed out on a regular basis. 

Someone or another has been tailgate selling these around the NC-ABANA meetings for years for a buck or two apiece. It is a LOT of work to forge these by hand, but do-able.

 

Thank you, appreciate the info.

I'll likely not reforge them, but grind to shape.  Although I won't be able to resist try to forge at least one.  And if I can get them for a couple bucks a piece, not a big deal if I destroy a couple.

tl;dr - how much is fair to pay for S7 punches from tablet press. Some dies available too.

I have an opportunity to buy a 10 or so used (and defaced) punches from pharmaceutical tablet presses. He said make an offer.

• They are S7 steel (he said he has spec sheet)
• Not sure on brand.
• The round punch faces are the size of either regular Advil to large Tums antacid chewables.
• The oblong faced punches are the size of a Tylenol
• There are some dies available too.

I recently took a class on making chests and the instructor had some re-purposed punches that worked well for cutting "D" shaped slots and key holes.  It seems like there are quite a few other potential uses for these (touchmark, chisels, punches, etc).  I'm not sure about reshaping the tooling into bar stock, but could definitely reshape the ends to make chisels and such.  I have the equipment to heat treat S7 too.

I don't want to get ripped off and I don't want to insult the guy (and there may be more punches available in the future).

I've attached an image that is similar to what the instructor had and what the guy said he had. 

Thoughts on a fair price?  I'm not looking for the deal of the century, and am willing to pay a fair price, just don't want to get taken for a ride.