John NC Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I've got to make some lightweight chain, and I've got some annealed steel wire that's just the right diameter that sure would be easy to make links out of, cold. Can I make up the chain, then harden it? I'm thinking something like "Heat to XYZ degrees then quickly quench in PDQ." TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnptc Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 depends if there is enough carbon in the steel. first heat a piece in a torch until red/orange and quench in water or oil see if it hardened.........if yes try it with two links and go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John NC Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Thanks John, I'll give that a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 If it has sufficient carbon the heat quench will harden it. and if it is hardened it must be tempered to reduce the hardneww a bit or it will likely be brittle and fracture under stress. However as you said you were going to make the lengths by cold forming then why bother to try and heat treat as the open ends will be the weak spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John NC Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 John, thanks, it worked. Rich it's not going to be under much load, but the wire was so soft I was worried the links would pull open. It hardened up enough that that shouldn't be a problem, but it's not so hard as to be brittle. Should work, thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 A lot of times that wire will ... work harden. Just bending/forming it will harden it up. I've made a bunch of watch chains from those rolls of "utility" tie wire. And it stiffens up well and will hold my pocket watch to my vest real well. I've also done similar things with barbwire. I untwist it, straighten it, and then work it as needed. I even make fish hooks out of it, and "vent picks" for flintlock guns. The bending/forming hardens them up all by itself. But the vent picks I do heat them to put in a decorative twist, and then quench. So it all depends upon what metal the wire is really made from. Mikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.