Loneforge Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 I have just inherited two 8 foot lengths of 1 1/2" square 44w mild steel. Would this steel make for good tongs or should I just use it for construction projects. Anything I've read thus far points to it being garbage steel. I'm a bladesmith and will not be using it in any of my knives. I was hoping it would be good for making tongs and other tools. Any insight here would be much appreciated! Darren, Loneforge Blades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 44w = a36 , just the Canadian specification, according to what Google returns. Should be good for anything you would consider using a36 mild steel for. (yes, make tongs, or fixture with it) Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 44w is the Canadian equivalent of A36. It does meet the specs for A36 but has a slightly higher minimum tensile strength. It is mild steel not a tool steel, fine for making tongs although I prefer 1045. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yea3114u Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 From what I can tell 44w is the Canadian equiv. of A36. I have made several tongs from mild steel that work just fine. Because its is mild I would leave the tongs a little "stockier" than if I used tool steel . Hope you have a power hammer or some stamina if you plan to draw out 1.5" into tongs though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loneforge Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 I will split he stock into smaller cross sections for making tongs....No power hammer. Thanks for the info guys much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 You can forge all kind of things from regular old hot rolled aka A36 44w. It is used extensively in ornamental work I currently have about 5 tones of various bars on the steel rack. It can be water quenched and get some hardness out of it. Most of the tongs I have made were made from hot rolled steel. I also make bending wrenches, light duty spring swages, scroll forms and bending jigs of all forms. It really is general purpose steel. To a knife maker it may seem like low quality junk steel and at times it can be but I do %85 of my work in A36/hot rolled steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielpiotte Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 You could also "super quench" it for a little more toughness on your tong reins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 WAY too much work for tongs especially without a large powerhammer. Save it for a large ornamental iron commission like large crosses or major gates or in small lengths you can make quite ornate dragon door knockers. Handy thing to have on the steel rack; but you'd be better off in time and money mowing lawns and buying steel for tongs than re-working those! Once those are broken down you can't put them back and they would be *very* expensive to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loneforge Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 I used tongs as an example...Just curious. I work with high carbon steels and was just curious of the suitability of this steel. I would cut it into smaller sections to make tongs of course.....Split in 3 for tongs. The steel will get used for something, more than likely a construction project. Just wanted to be sure it was gonna be useful. It was free and it will get used. Thanks for all the info guys! Maybe a new workbench with twisted legs! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Yup that would look a treat and do some heavy joinery work for the stretchers and then put a rough hewn barn oak top on it and then get several thousand dollars for your "work bench"... What I was getting at is that it would be a shame to cut it smaller---like having a big diamond; sure you could cut it into a hundred small diamonds; but---you can't put smaller diamonds back into a single big one and if you then needed a big one you would have to pay through your nose for what you once had to hand! If you have HC experience just take some automotive coil springs and make some light, tough tongs from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) I have just inherited two 8 foot lengths of 1 1/2" square 44w mild steel. Would this steel make for good tongs or should I just use it for construction projects. Anything I've read thus far points to it being garbage steel. I'm a bladesmith and will not be using it in any of my knives. I was hoping it would be good for making tongs and other tools. Any insight here would be much appreciated! Darren, Loneforge Blades Inch and a half?? Tongs?? Unless your splitting the material, thems gonna be some gargantuan tongs or you will be drawing out the reigns for....., well, I bet I get another knife done first :lol: Edit: Sorry, I missed previous posts on splitting :huh: Edited May 23, 2012 by Dodge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I would cut small sections and use it for guards and pommels. Blued or etched for that ol-timey look, or polished to a high shine... It would look great on knives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Is this pretty much the same stuff that you can buy at Lowes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 focus....Scott...!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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