Nobby

Hi Thomas, you're right I've confused the terms [I tend to exist in a state of confusion].

I'm going to go back and read the stickies again !  but be prepared for more questions .....

thanks for the replies

Evening All,

I just thought it might be an idea for  anyone from the UK to post whereabouts they are so that we might be able to build up a bit of a network/community here?

Just for starters I'm in Swansea.

Hope this is OK with the moderators.

cheers

Nobby

so, made three strikers from two different files and on from a hex key. all treated at the same temperature in our 0ven [@275C ; @530F if my maths is correct?] and quenched in oil.

The hex key striker gives plenty of sparks off the flint. However, those made from the files - a big fat NOTHING.

Retempered the file strikers in water - Nothing. So, I'm assuming this simply means a different steel - should I temper these at a higher temperature ?

Any advice gratefully received.

cheers 

Nobby

Got my hands on some files now so watch this space.

On 3/12/2019 at 11:00 AM, ThomasPowers said:

Mod removes waste of bandwidth

Thanks for the idea Thomas

[how do i apply for membership of the curmudgeon club ? ;-)

Benona

thanks for that. It illustrates the difference quite dramatically. 

Still learning !

Frosty/Thomas

thanks for the replies. I was finding it difficult comparing the results of the spark test with illustrations. I'll definitely start a trial of different steels. Thanks for the suggestion.

Nobby

Hello again,

still attempting to get to the bottom of my issues with attempting to harden coil spring steel so I thought I'd post an image of the spark test under the grinder. Any opinions as to whether this indicates a relatively high carbon content or not would be appreciated.

cheers

Nobby

thanks for all the replies to date. I attempted to harden these again today. took them up to a bright orange in the gas forge then quenched just the striking face in water. NO bloody sparks off of the flint and then bugger snapped as the water quenching had caused a crack in the striking face. So i came to a couple of possible conclusions:

1. I don't really know what I'm doing. However, that's ok as every day is a learning experience.

2. the steel in the coil spring may not be as good as I assumed. However, on the grinder i get a a multitude of orange sparks originating at the grinder disc which appear to fit the descriptions I've found when looking into spark testing ie.

High-carbon steel

High-carbon steel has a bushy spark pattern (lots of forking) that starts at the grinding wheel. The sparks are not as bright as the medium-carbon steel ones.^[5]

3. Am I doing something wrong with the quenching process? Is it possible to do something wrong when quenching? Results with oil and water appear to be no different although I now realise that I should probably have heated the quenching medium somewhat to reduce the thermal shock [like  i said: "every day...." etc]

Conclusion [having recalled Einsteins definition of insanity ie.

 “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” 

1. try steel from a different coil spring [we have loads]

2. Await further pearls of wisdom from all you kind people out there.

Thanks again

ps. I might try and upload an image or short vid of the steel on the grinder

Nobby

Thanks arkie

afternoon all,  I've started making fire strikers, for my wife's scout troop, using coil spring. However, i'm having trouble getting them hard enough to produce sparks using flint.

I heated them to the point of non-magnetic then oil quenched but got very few sparks. should i water quench instead or can anyone offer some other advice?

all comments welcome

cheers

Nobby 

Yesterday, experimented with cool Spring fire strikers for my wife's scout troop.

Today was a baking day: cheese scones and flapjack (well, I can't get away with bashing metal all the time)

Thanks for the reply . At the moment, although it's under cover its open ventilated both ends so we've got good through flow of fresh air. We're constructing a fixed forge which will have a hood ducted to the outside so hopefully no issue there either, provided the draw is sufficient. Well smoke test and if it's not then we'll adapt it.

Evening all, from sunny Swansea in the UK. Fired up our small coal forge for the first time today. Enough heat to work coil Spring so very happy with result. However, I'm conscious that we could probably improve the result so all comments welcome.

using a small leaf blower with a variable speed control. Works very well .