I am in need of a slitter. I have some tool steel layin' about and was wonderin' what you guys have done.

1. 1. What type of material
2. 2. How thick is the slitter
3. What type of edge do you put on your slitter and why.
   

Thanks for all of your assistance.

What sizes are you looking to slit? - it's relative to the size tools you make - JK

I am going to make 3/4" mortises to accept 3/4" wide tenons(in 3/4"sq bar). I wanted to make it 3/4" wide but I wanted to know what you all use and how you made them and why as the first post states.

I'm with JeremyK. What are you wanting to slit? I use different slitting punches for different thicknesses of material, and the dimensions I want to end up with can influence my choices.

For a slitter - The width should be the circumfrence of the finished holes size you want and long tappered down to about 1/8" thick and sharpend like a wide V. I don't have any pics but I'm sure someone here does. Slit while very hot and they go easy. drift to open the hole and to size. Always do a sample to check your slitter size vs. outcome and make adjustments if needed. - JK

Edited March 23, 200917 yr by jeremy k

Is that a single or a double bevel on the end of that slitter? I made one today it was 3/4" wide x 1/4" thick and I put a double bevel on the end. I made it from some spring steel that I had layin about, but, I did not heat it porperly and it cracked and shattered in use. I did temper and all but I think that cracks formed while I was straightening the curve out of the piece. I will have to make a new one tomorrow and I was wondering what you guys use.

Sorry, I'm slow at typing.
If I want to make a 3/4" hole, round or square, in 3/4", round or square, I'll make a slitting punch that is 3/4" wide the whole length of the punch tapered from 3/4" to about 1/8" at the business end. I will have it V-shaped like I make almost all my punches with a cold chisel grind on it. [this is what makes it a punch instead of a chisel] It's kind of like a center punch grind that has been flattened down to that 1/8" on the end. I drive it down almost all the way to the anvil then turn it over and punch out the plug. you don't get cold shuts this way. You should prepare your stock for this by either upsetting or working down your material on either side of your hole or just accept the hollowing out that you get if you don't.
I use what ever I have on hand for making my tools, usually spring.
I also would make a drift that is tapered from 3/4" square to about 1/8"x3/4" at the end and tapered to maybe 1/2" square on the other end.
I learned from Tsur Sedan who learned from Uri Hofi to make the slitter and drift the same width as the hole you want so that your bar doesn't shrink or grow when you put your holes in.

I think I understand...if you have time could you take a photo of what you are talking about?

I'll do it tomorrow. I'll have to make it for square.

that is fine I want sqr holes anyway

I am in need of a slitter. I have some tool steel layin' about and was wonderin' what you guys have done.

1. 1. What type of material
2. 2. How thick is the slitter
3. What type of edge do you put on your slitter and why.
   

Thanks for all of your assistance.

1. H13 is the best material for hot work that is easily obtainable. I use it exclusively for hot chisels and punches.
2. Thin - I have a 2" wide chisel that will cut about 1-1/2" deep and it tapers from 3/16" near the chisel body down to the edge, which is about 1/32".
3. Dead sharp will usually roll so I leave about 1/32".

Archiphile, here are the pictures. I had to wait until Karen got home; I don't know how to transfer pictures yet.
I went ahead and showed some other punches, and I did square on the diagonal. As you can see, the diagonal requires hammering to straighten the sides of the square after drifting, and it requires a different drift. If you'll notice the small round and square plug are not perfect because they were not lined up perfectly when I punched out the plug from the other side and I did not lay them out before hand. I just did it by sight in one heat. Punching only will cause the bar to grow, while slitting and drifting this way will not cause the bar to grow or shrink.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, the slitting punch for the 3/4" square holes was made from 4140 because that's all I had today to work with, and the drifts were made from mild steal.

Thank you It is all so much clearer now. I really appreciate your time and consideration with my question. This is so awesome. Now I have a good idea of tooling geometry. As a suggestion,you could do a blueprint or two about what the tools are and how the geometry affects the operation and function of each of the tooling. In short you rock!

How do I do a blueprint? I just learned to E-mail.

If you send me the photos and a detail description I will turn it into a BP for you. It will be a learning experience for us both. I would be more than happy to assist you with this as there is little information on the subject to date.

Thank you, I'll try to put it all together. Should I cover punching in general because there is quite a bit more, or should I do something more specific like the slitting and drifting? How should I send it?

I would cover punching and sliting and drifting because you can not have to much information on that issue. As to sending send it all via email you can send the pictures in a compressed file and the copy could be either in the body of an email or you could send it in a word document. Those are my suggestions. I can't wait to do this. It will be really fun to work with you on this.

Looking forward to it; I'll start tomorrow. Thanks again! I'd better go now; Karen is calling.

Ma Bed is callin me...I did not know that people named their beds.

Thanks for this thread men. I'm fairly new at this and am trying to figure out some tools I need and how to make them. This is just what I have been wanting to hear. Making a blueprint is a good idea. The only problem is I have not been able to see any new blueprints. It would be nice if it could also be posted in this thread so everyone will be able to see it. I hope you will do that.
Thanks
Billy

Bsiler,

If you want to see the current blueprints, look at the top right had corner of your screen and you will see the word BluePrintsclick on it, and you will find a lot of information there.

awsome thread guys, me and element where just making some small drifts the othere day and where asking the same kind of questions , thanks for making it so clear brian

Excellent thread, explination and pictures Brian, thank you for taking the time to do it.

My Vote is for a blueprint on this one......

We are going to have Brian here in Virginia for a demonstration and a couple classes in November. Would be a great time to get some IFI people there for a group shot...and a great time!

Just a thought...

Peyton