I am wondering if when they say hay rake teeth, are they talking about the early 1900's type of dump rake, or the newer (1950's or so ) type or hay rake? I have some of the old tines and I am curious if it is the high carbon steel that they are talking about. thanks, just found this forum and am looking forward to learning a lot here.

John, dump rake teeth ( sulkey ) are yes great steel. I have had some modern rake teeth in the shop for several years but have honestly not tried them. Actually i thing the teeth I have are from a finisher behind a chisel plow. Suspect with some experimentation they would do for many things.

They are talking about dump rake teeth. I always have some on hand. Good for small knives like patch knives, fire strikers, woodcarving tools, repousse' tools, springs.

Good stuff they are.
New rake tines are good too. Just not as much material. For a while I was buying tines for landscape rakes. Nice flat stock and marked 5160.

thanks, any info on tempering that type of steel? or any info in general about using or forging them? thanks for any help.

The old dump rake teeth are straight carbon steel. Water harden and for most things I would draw back to a bronze. My strikers are edge hardened only and I don't draw temper on them at all.

I belive that hay rake teeth are 1095.

-Dave

I use lots of hay rake teeth for patchknives .
they are 1095 simple carbon,personally I use transmission fluid or the wifes used veggy oil.temperd back to a straw color on the edge they make tough little knives. just my 2 cents worth

As a rule do you not use old motor oil?

I am going to try to do some woodworking gouges and hopefully a curved knife. thanks for the replies.

There is a thread on using old motor oil. In general it's nasty stuff. Spring for a gallon of veggie oil at Sams or a restaurant supply.
Finnr

Quenching in old motor oil

vet grade mineral oil from Tractor Supply

motor oil can be usad but in our ever increacingly safe world it has too many nastys. use hyd. or peanut or such to be friendly or politiculy correct

Thanks, I will look for some more friendly oil.

I don't think all hay rake tine is the same. I've found two sizes. I'm not sure of the diameters (I'd have to go out to my cold shop and do some measuring). I've used the thinner ones to make flint strikers and they work great. I found some that were a little thicker that I couldn't get hard enough to spark. I've got a new supply of the thinner ones, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet.

I agree with the above post, some of the 3/8" dia. ones don't seem to have as much carbon in 'em.

I have made some tools from these, but have not hardened them yet. I will be doing that in the next couple of days. I don't have much experience in tempering, so I don't how the results will come out. I am hoping that I have the teeth that are hard, although they seem to be about 3/8" I didn't measure them. I ran some on the grinder and they sparked like the 4th of july, but I have read that that is not really a good indication of spark. they are very springy but again I don't know if that means anything. This rake was on the farm when we moved here in the 60"s I think it was at least from the 40"s and probably before the farm was build in 1910 or so. Not sure if the age makes any difference. thanks for all the replies and when I do get a successful temper I will let you know, I guess I will do a test with a file to see how hard they are.

For *simple* alloys (read "old steel") Spark testing is generally pretty good indicator of carbon content.

Modern high alloy steels, (like HSS or the M's) can get pretty weird some sparking like cast iron.

For real fun spark test some Ti!

thanks thomas, the spark test on this stuff is nice, I think anyway, its bright shoots off and then starbursts at the end.

I am looking for some hay rake tynes to make some Cajun triangles and beaters. Or someone that has made some and can make me one. (In Mebourne Victoria Australia

They can be made from mild steel or even coil springs from vehicles or the assist springs on overhead doors. 

5 hours ago, Glenn said:

the assist springs on overhead doors. 

There are two kinds of overhead door assist springs: extension springs and torsion springs. Extension springs are generally smaller in diameter and about 25" long for a standard 7' door. Torsion springs are made from heavier stock (around 1/4"), range from about 2" to over 6" in diameter, and can be any length, depending on the size and weight of the door. Torsion springs are probably what you want for your triangles.

Call around to garage door repair places near you, as they will often have old or broken springs that they've replaced on customers' doors. I've gotten a LOT of springs from the guy who fixed my door a couple of years back; he's got a pile the size of a pickup truck out behind his shop, waiting for the scrap prices to go back up.

I don't know the farmer name.  ;). 

I make many tools out if hay rake tines. They must be from horse drawn equipment.

Treat as 1095 and water quench works for me. Draw a temper as needed for the tool type.

Another good old steel is potatoe planter belt. Again if from old horse drawen equipment treat like 1095 and water quench. 

Newer rake teeth  scraps