Ernie42141 Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Team. I am grinding down a case hardened 4 inch hydraulic ram for a freestanding horn. If the top is left alone should or how would I harden it. Won't even scratch with a file right now. all caps have been replaced with normal text and post relocated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Hydraulic rams are made from tough steels, so it may not get extremely hard. The chrome plating is extremely hard, and slippery wear surface. Case hardening is done on lower grade mild steels to harden just the surface leaving a tough inner core, you do not case harden good steels. To test it out, take a thin slice off of one end , heat to bright red,and quench in water. Test with a file, and try to snap it in a vise with a hammer to see the grain structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 Do you think it may work without treatment. I'm just a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Have it turned on a lathe instead-faster, and if you add up the cost of abrasives and time it might cost less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 I'll definitely look into it a a local machine shop. What do think is a good way to see if it turns out hard enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 Read my earlier post covering that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 As many cone mandrels were/are made from cast iron, a steel version is harder than those even without any heat treatment. A lot will depend on what you plan to do and how you plan to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 I hope to be able to do knives, axes, and iron work to accompany my woodworking projects.don't every think I'll be doing giant pieces or production scale work. Just a guy who likes to make things "anythings" that come into the old idea locker on my shoulders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 How hard does it have to be in order to resist HOT Iron ? How and what are you going to attach it to in order it make it a free standing horn ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Well you don't use a cone mandrel for knives or axes, so unless you are doing a lot of rings that need to be opened up it won't get much use. To answer you main concern, yes, it will be fine as is for smithing. Just work on hammer control so you don't go nicking it up from errant hammer blows. If you do ding it with a hammer, do not file the high spots down. Tap them down with the hammer first. The metal moved, so push it back down before any filing is done. I saved a lot of gun screws by tapping the heads back into shape after someone had buggered them up with an ill fitting screwdriver. It also works with rounded out Allen heads to a point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Before you go to a LOT of effort, time and money maybe you should spend your time developing your skills sets. What you're doing is a common beginner's mistake in most any craft you're trying to find or make the perfect tools. We've all done it one time or another, don't feel special. There really isn't anything making a blade needs a horn or mandrel cone for. Nope not a thing. There are much better things to buy, find or make to make bladesmithing easier. For now though, build a fire and start making. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Buy the book by Steve Sells, Introduction to Bladesmithing that is featured on IForgeIron. It will take you from the very beginning to a finished knife all in one book, and flatten out your learning curve a whole lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 My metal plate anvil has a big u shaped cut out that was where I was going to weld in the horn. I want to thank everyone your posts are super helpful for a newbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 And to Frosty. Yep I tend to over engineer everything. But thanks for the advise. My forge will be done this week and it's hammer time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matei campan Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 remember that most of the horns of the London pattern anvils are not hardened and most of them are just soft wrought iron and nobody complains Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 The steel inserts on the horns on Fisher anvils were never hardened either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WL smith Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 In your first post you said it was a hydraulic ram. They are chrome plated. Pounding on it will eventually crack the chrome and it will cut you. Bad bleeding situation--trust me. Find a round piece of stock and weld it in that cut out. Then forge on into the future. Welcome to the fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Where does steel wool come from? A hydraulic ram! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Awe Sheep! Thats a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I'd hate to shear one of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie42141 Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Dull the crap out of your shears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WL smith Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Never get butted by a hydraulic ram is my policy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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