March 15, 200917 yr 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).
March 15, 200917 yr 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)!
March 16, 200917 yr Author 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.
March 16, 200917 yr 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?
March 16, 200917 yr Author 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?
March 17, 200917 yr Author Hatchets/camp axes, hmmm. Being that it's considered a "shock resistant" material, I'm now starting to think of making hammers with it...
March 17, 200917 yr 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.
March 17, 200917 yr 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
March 17, 200917 yr Author 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).
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