Does anyone happen to know what standard pto shafts are made of? I did a spark test and it seems to be high carbon, but I really don't have experience with the spark test. Just what I've read...

High carbon would not be what I would choose in that service---a nice chewy medium carbon steel would be what I expect---something like 4340.

True. It would have to flex. I didn't think about that.

Think truck axle. It has to take the twisting and shock load. I'd bet Tommas is right on the money.

I helped one of the older members here (irnsrgn aka Jr Strasil) to make a hammer out of 1.25" PTO shaft that he told me was 1045. I'm not sure what it specifically came off of but guessing it was old as well ;) It sure made a nice hammer! IIRC he made all of his hammers from similar shafting...

I have ( I think ) 6 of his hammers.  Outstanding material.

This is a newer style. Probably really malleable. Didn't get a chance to work on the forge this weekend, but Im gonna play with the material and see...

McNeilus Steel lists their PTO shafting as 1045

So that's a mid carbon rating? I'm new to steel ratings ...

Just looked up 1045. Says its .43-.5% carbon and hardenable. Decent for making punches?

Medium carbon. It will work for a punch, works especially well for drifts, tongs, hammers, axes...
Bottom tools, top tools...
Generally good stuff, just don't cool a tool in your slack tub if you let it get red hot.
By the way, it's a great way to build your hammering arm, it isn't the hardest steel to move, but it certainly isn't the easiest

Awesome. Thanks for the input, Charles. Might even make a hotcut out of it too. :)

"  This is a newer style. Probably really malleable. Didn't get a chance to work on the forge this weekend, but Im gonna play with the material and see..."

 

 

newer style meaning it is metric shafting ?  Standard PTO is square or rectangular for the large part ( this is US I'm speaking of ).

So that's a mid carbon rating? I'm new to steel ratings ...

 

More like a medium carbon

I have made hammers from that and quenched both faces from non magnetic in water.

I'm in the u.s. too. But this is like triangular with rounded 'angles ', and pretty meaty. I got a section to near-white hot, high yellow, and beat it with a 3lb hammer for bout 30 minutes. It really didn't want to move, even after bout 5-6 heats... I'll come back to it another day.

The particular tractor it was off of was an 80's tw-25 Ford. It's a beast.

Thanks Rich for pointing that out, I was referring to small punches, chisels and tongs, in use. You are right when heat treating you can quench in water.
(Wouldn't be so bold as to argue the point with you any way, you have just a fees more hours at the forge than I do)

I picked up this PTO/drive shaft at the scrap yard today. I figure it will be good for a number of things. 1.5" solid square by 36". My first thought is to make tools for a guillotine tool.