senstrom

would an H13 rod be a good metal for making a touchmark?

indeed fergy, we need more ram info

i cant be of much help tho because i am transfixed with your pics as to what in the world that thing is

ram cylinder size would be my question, the pumps i use at work only put out 2800 psi but the ram cylinder they are attached to puts out 720 tons of force

made this one with a spike exactly that size

not yet, still working on the finishing touches on my forge

i like finding projects that require tools i do not have yet, that way i get 2-3 goods projects out of 1 idea

i have a pretty good supply of the H13 pins as well...thinknig of trading some out so others can play with em

makes sense for the pins former life as a locator device when 2 mold halves meet

bout that big

i get that impression from his posts

i got the same impression when i read the specs on 5115, the pins i have are seriously hard on the outside anyway? was surprised to see that the specs had it at such a low carbon

the other pins out of the same mold are all H13 not sure what is with 5115 pins, but free is free so...

thanks for the advice Charles, got some forgin' to do

probably no good for blades then i imagine

has anyone used 5115 steel to forge anything?

got a good bit of it but am having trouble gathering any information regarding it

thank you

got some H13 for trade is there a specific thread for that?

beautiful work, love that leaving in the rough bits look. 

what did you use to put your name in it?

and leaf springs are good for the 5160 on average?

so if i am buying new steel then 5160 is a good blade steel?...trying to study up on my alloys but, have alot to learn still

thank you both, made a gift of it to my uncle who is very supportive of my new hobby so its just for show really not for use so much

thank you Dave that is very helpful indeed

live in southern indiana so i know im not far from the coal mines in kentucky, does anyone know a good source in this area?

i know, i know, railroad spikes dont make good knives but it was a good learning piece for me i think...what does you all think?