evfreek Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Pacific Machinery and Tool is offering 25 lb bundles of tool steel (H-13, S-7) on Ebay for $25 plus 24.19 shipping. I was interested in hand tools, but they said that the pieces are big. One piece per order, could be up to 2X3x27. These might make good block anvils or anvil tops. Why does a medium piece of steel bedded in concrete make such a good knifemaker's anvil? Wouldn't the concrete crack? It turns out, for hand hammering, not really. A simple calculation of the impulse force shows it to be below the safe compressive strength for concrete, neglecting side friction. What's a good way of heat treating one of these big pieces for either a block or a hard top? I have heard that dunking causes cracking, primarily due to large vapor pockets, but a spray might work. These tool steels are deep hardening, so the firehose trick may not be necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevomiller Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 They are both air hardening steels, no dunk needed. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 A link to one of these auctions PLEASE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 For the price of the steel, I'd send it out for professional heat treating prior to setting in your block. Under no circumstances should they be dunked if you do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I found a 4-7/16" X12" piece of steel which placed on a stump would be Ok but not great for knife making. Aren't there any scrap yards near you because for that extra cost of shipping maybe you could get a bigger chunk of steel to work with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinD Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 A link to one of these auctions PLEASE. Took a little digging but I found it.eBay Store - Pacific Machinery and Tool Steel: Tool and Die Steel, Spring Steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.