Average height for a hot cut?

[SRT02]

What is the average height for a hot cut?

[Steve Sells]

Tall enough to get through what ever you need it to cut.

[jayco]

Years ago, I found a champion cut-off hardy in a flea market junk box. It had hardly been used. It's only 2 in. tall, but is quite a good size, actually.

When I first started smithing, I followed the "bigger is better" philosophy and made myself one from leaf spring.......5 in. tall.
I seldom use that one.....it's kinda wobbly when I hammer down on it, though it fits the hardy hole.......it's just too tall.
Because of the extra height, I consider it to be more dangerous as well.

[SRT02]

The I made today is made out of an old jackhammer piece. It's high carbon i think. I forgot to put a shoulder on it though. But it's roughly 2-2 &1/2 in. It works good.

Do you really need to heat treat one of these? If all the things you cut using it will be hot?

[TASMITH]

Not necessary to heat treat it for hot cutting. The jack hammer steel will be tough if it was just air cooled after forging. they are not generally a high carbon steel as they are meant to be tough as opposed to hard and will stand up quite well as is.

Terry

[Quenchcrack]

I have two commercial hot cuts that are about 2" tall and one that was forged for me by a gentleman named "Snow Smith" who I have not talked to in years. It is about 3" tall and works just fine.

[element]

I normalized mine after forging, So far so good.