schmism Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I have a pry bar that i broke one of the nail pulling ears off of. I thought it would make a great blacksmithing project to cut off the other ear, and reform the nail puller jaw. the question is. how is the standard crow bar, or pry bar heat treated? (this is the standard 6 sided hex bar with a more than 90deg bend on the nail puller end and a slight bend on the other flatened end) Are these heat treated? I would think air quench would mean the steel is to soft for prying, but water quench would make it to brittle and subject to fracture especially when being beat on with a hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 You would need to establish what kind of steel you are dealing with first. Then temper it to a very tough temper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 As forged or normalized is pretty good heat treat for most pry bars. Otherwise I would say spring temper ought to work... but we've had this discussion before on here and most seem to agree on "as forged" or "normalized" for pry bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I agree with bigfoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Do not harden it. The user may be on top of a roof, pulling with all their might, if the bar breaks they will fall. It is better to err on the side of caution. Like what has been said, normalize only. Straighten the bar, reforge a new end, bend to an accepted radius (NOT TOO TIGHT). Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I agree. Pry bars should fail to bending; not breakage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 You will know better after you re-forge it and test it. The proof is in the pulling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Don't forget to half-round fuller the length that you hot split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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