Zachary Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I've been needing a new sledge for the occasional person that wants to come and learn and be my striker. As usual I can't afford nice custom tools so I have to make do with what I have. I had a piece of excavator bucket pin from work that was a little over 3 inches in diameter and 5 inches long that weighed about 11 pounds. I decided if I can't afford one I'll try to make one. I reshaped some tongs I had to hold a piece that big, made a drift to match a sledge hammer handle I had, and went at it. It was a lot of work but it was fun too my hydraulic press made the job a lot easier. I go the eye a little crooked but it will work. I'm not sure what steel it was but I tried hardening it in vegetable oil and it didn't get very hard so I used water and it was better. After tempering it I dropped a 1" ball bearing on it and it had around 50 percent rebound so it got hard enough to do what I want it to. When I got done with polishing it it weighed about 10.5 pounds so all in all I'm happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Looks like a nice one! I don't want too cool your enthusiasm any but I think you should think about making the next one with a straight peen or cross peen on one end. More versatility is GOOD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Excavator pins are usually 4140 a fine alloy for hammer heads. Pretty darned nice job there. I ditto the suggestin for a cross or straight pein on the next one.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Idk when I'll be that way but if I'm ever that way I'll come swing that thing for a bit. Looks like a good workout :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachary Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 I wondered about it being 4140 but I wasn't sure about it. As far as making another one I don't really plan on it at this point. For one thing I very rarely have a striker and I don't know if I want to try forging something that big for awhile again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Describe your heat treat process on that fine looking tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zachary Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 I heated the faces to nonmagnetic and quenched in cold water and then slowly heated it back up til they turned a light straw color 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.