Im updating my hammers from C45. Any input on H13 vs S7? 

 

if your making them yourself I'd be looking hard for some 4340, s7 as a second choce, h-13 if someone was paying you..... a goodly chunk of money. Take care, Matt

More information on size and type of hammer, amount of use, etc; please.

We've use EN26 with good results.

 

Phil

FX2 from Finkl

http://www.finkl.com/products.aspx

 

Ric

Thanks for feedback. The dies is for hammers 15-75 kg . Flat , combi, fullering and crown dies. Im have a company making the dies for me. Here is the durability and quality that counts :) I made some dies myself some years ago of H13, Its hard to machine I must say. 

I've got some S7 cut into 2x2x3 just for dies if that would work for you.

 

Dan

Have used forklift forks with good result, i know its an unknown but they respond well to an oil hardening, an are common to find in large dimensions.

Have used forklift forks with good result, i know its an unknown but they respond well to an oil hardening, an are common to find in large dimensions.

Were you able to cut them with anything other than a torch? I have a small one and tried horizontal bandsaw, chop saw, plasma cutter. I just didn't want to have to grind off the ugly torch marks along the cut.

really? I've cut lots of bits of fork lift and I've used my horizontal bandsaw (nice sharp blade helps) and angle grinders before I got the saw. 

I have had really good luck with forklift steel too but you need to aneal it first to cut it with a saw.

I have had really good luck with forklift steel too but you need to aneal it first to cut it with a saw.

 

That's quite a chicken and egg problem ;-). I can only anneal small pieces. I can only cut annealed pieces.

 

So, in your experience, does it air harden or can you soften it enough by bringing it to heat and then air cooling?

Good bimetal blade on a slow feed bandsaw works for me 100%.

likewise :) I don't think I have ever annealed a piece? I could't saw close to the place it was gas axed from the main beam, but the rest cuts fine on the bandsaw (slow, but I only have a small saw!)

Did the forks require any special treatment before using them as dies? 

 

Andy

i've mostly used mine for anvils, so they have all been heat treated (well the first 1/2" or so of the face certainly). I did make some flypress tooling from a bit and I should've heat treated it, after a few months they got damaged beyond use :(

So yes then basically.

Cheers
Andy

S7 works very well for hammer dies. I costs about the same as 4140 and you don't need any quenching medium, as it's air hardening. A 3x3x6" is $79 through Hudson. You can temper with pretty good control in your kitchen oven at 550f and get good results at 55Rc. Perhaps a bit harder than you'd like but it works well for me, as long and the features are not to fine.

I don't know why you'd ever use H13 for a hammer die. I can't see the die ever getting to a temperature you'd see deformation with S7 or 4140 / 4340. A great material for true hot work however. There is a great heat treat paper on line on the Tidewater Blacksmith site if you need the information presented in simple easy to follow manner. http://tidewaterblacksmiths.com/heat.html