chrisfrick Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 I've just come across a piece of S-7 that's about 1.5" square X about 8" long and was wondering if this might be something to forge down into either a blade, or parts for laminating. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice on what I could use this for? (reason I'm asking is that I got if for free). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 I'd make punches, drifts or hot chisels from it. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 I've never used S7, but I hear that it's hard stuff to move so unless you have one or more friends who can swing a sledge or a power-hammer you're looking at a long job. Furthermore I understand it isn't a very good blade steel but I'm not sure why. S7 is a very good steel for tooling though, as it's both shock-resistant and somewhat hot-hard. See Frosty's suggestion; he's usually right (but don't tell him I said that)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyboy Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Busse uses S7 in their blade. i've also heard S7 is used in mower blades?? buzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfrick Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Since I got it for free, I think I might look into using it to chew up my power hack saw blades and make some punches and drifts with it. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Tooling is a far better use for it than as a blade steel. Do you have a flypress or treadle hammer where a set of short tools would be nice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfrick Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Thomas--no, unfortunately all I have is a home-made 70 lb. anvil and a 2.5 lb crosspeen. I was thinking about cutting it into maybe some 1.5" squares and trying to forge them down into something useful. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBower Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 A couple of hatchets/camp axes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfrick Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Hatchets/camp axes, hmmm. Being that it's considered a "shock resistant" material, I'm now starting to think of making hammers with it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 The reason S7 is often suggested for tooling is that it maintains a higher heat hardness for tools that get burried into hot metal, so hot cuts, punches, butchers, deep fullering tools etc would profit the most from it. Hitting hot metal is not much of a shock; medium carbon steel work fine for hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stamp man Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I'd make punches, drifts or hot chisels from it. Frosty Good call S7 is one of the toughest tool steels by a large margin. It really doesnt wear good as a cutting tool but it has massive strength properties. We use it in some rare applications when a tough stamp is needed to mark semi hard and tough materials. We usally spec the heat treat at hardnesses 55/57 HRC for stapms which are the same as chiles or punches. Warnning, you must draw back (heat the hammer end with a torch for 38/42 Rc so it doesn't splinter or crack when you strike it) Basic specsFORGING: Heat to 1950/2050 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisfrick Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Thanks for all the great info, guys. This chunk just may end up being turned into a couple of punches and some hammer eye drifts. (understood about drawing the hammering end so it won't chip/explode). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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