Elemental Metal Creations Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I picked these up a while back for $5 each. Im I correct in thinking that they are cold cuts? The edge doesn't seem sharp enough to be for hot work. One has Hubbard special alloy stamped in it. The one on the right looks like it might have been hand forged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbrazealblacksmith Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Like what Grant Sarver said a while back: the only difference in a hot cut or cold cut is whether you are cutting hot or cold material. I do not harden my hot cuts, but I do harden and temper my cold cuts. The one on the right looks as though it was used as a cold cut from the damage to the struck end. Dress that before using. A hot cut does not get damaged on the struck end so much unless it is struck improperly. A properly used and maintained top hot cut or hardy hot cut can last several life times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 looks more like a slit drift... at least that is what i would use it for..think forging hammer heads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 The one on the left looks like a rail cutter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 RR tools for sure.....I can't imagine how you could cut a rail with one. I made a nice straight peen out of one of mine and kept one as is. Using one at the anvil is difficult cause they're too tall......I use it for shearing bolts mostly...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Cold cuts tend to have a broader angle to the cutting edge---like 60 deg compated to 30 deg for a hot cut. With the better modern alloys many of use tend to go with quite sharp angles for our hotcuts compared to what the books 100 years ago suggest. Those do indeed look like RR rail cutters. How they were used on older softer rails was to nick the face and trace the line around the rail and then *break them*. This methodology has fallen out of favour with modern larger and stronger rail and the ability to use modern cutting methods. They indeed could be forged to a nice slit/drift for hammer heads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 It looks like both are a same thing. I would guess they were made in the same shop. One looks about brand new and the other looks like it saw 10 years of hard use, but never the less they look about the same make to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elemental Metal Creations Posted October 15, 2011 Author Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks for the info everyone, These were not made in the same shop unless they were made a long time apart. The one marked Hubbard special alloy (on the left) was machine made or drop forged and has grinding marks on the sides like many drop forged sledge hammers. It is very symmetrical The other one is not quite symmetrical, the bevels on the sides of the hammer face aren't even and the sides of the tapers have a ripple look to them. I will post some close ups tomorrow eve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elemental Metal Creations Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 More pics The first close-up is the one marked Hubbard Special Alloy (on the left in all pics). The second is the one on the right in all pics, I believe that this one was hand forged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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