toadharbor Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Hello I'm just starting out and got an old 8 foot x 1 1/4 inch prybar. Obviously it's a tough sort of steel, but I wondering if it would be good to make punches or drifts out of? I have read that 5160 is good for this, but I'm having a hard time finding coil springs. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 If its that big, I would suggest that you make hardy tools out of it rather than punches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Hardy and top tools, for sure, hot cut, butcher, set and flater, then veries fullers and dies As to springs, go to a shop that dose alighnments. When i worked as a mechanic, we replaced a lot of springs that had sagged. 4x4/off road shops also are a good place to look, torsion bars, coil springs, leafe springs, sway bars and stering linkages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Lots of stuff you can make with one of those babies. Just remember to plan your projects to the scale of the raw material you're working. It's not sensible to make a sewing needle out of a truck's axle when a piece of coat hanger wire would be more than enough. Drawing down heavy stock takes a lot of time, energy and fuel; aside from the cost of all that, you have to consider the increase in frustration and aggravation that comes with such a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toadharbor Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Lots of stuff you can make with one of those babies. Just remember to plan your projects to the scale of the raw material you're working. It's not sensible to make a sewing needle out of a truck's axle when a piece of coat hanger wire would be more than enough. Drawing down heavy stock takes a lot of time, energy and fuel; aside from the cost of all that, you have to consider the increase in frustration and aggravation that comes with such a project. I agree I"m just learning and I have a Striker (24 year old son) and a Striking anvil (of sorts, 260 pound piece of steel) in addition to my anvil, so it would be easier than if I was doing it just by myself. My main interest is in making the tools to make ?Tomahawks, Hatchets and smallish knives right now. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Probably work well for making a drift for axes and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 You will find the anvil and top tools to great advantage., tire irons, and smaller pry bars from yard sales, swapmeats and junk stores are also good, as are broken truck axles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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