gjohnsoniv Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I'm fairly new to the whole blacksmithing work and was wondering if it would be possible to use the leather punches in metal. Not for cold stamping, but in hot stamping of eyes, letters, and such. I haven't thought this through any and was wondering if anyone here had tried it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Even as expensive as leather tools can be, I don't believe they would be hard enough to work for very long even on hot metal, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Tim215 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 What you can possibly do is take a piece of round bar tool steel - D2 - and heat the tip to yellow - use the leather stamp to punch the pattern into the tool steel and allow to cool - then grind the tool steel edges to match the leather punch - heat treat and temper and you have a pattern punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjohnsoniv Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 Okay that's what I was thinking. I just thought well I have a bunch of those punches sitting around from my leather work so I wonder if they can be used other ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Tim215 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Show us some pics when you have done them. Me, no forging for the next 4-5 weeks - broke my shoulder today. Stupid sees and stupid does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjohnsoniv Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 I was also thinking about using equipment keys and make a handle where you can change them out. What kind of tempering would need to be done? I have never gotten much instruction on tempering tools or blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Tim215 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Each type of tool steel has it's own heat treating cycle - info freely available on the web and here on this site. You first harden the steel by taking it to its hardening temp and then quenching in oil and then temper once or twice (some times 3 times) for a certain amt of time at a specific heat required for that steel to soften again so it doesn't shatter or crack yet remains strong and durable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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