What to make?

[larrynjr]

I won't be able to start hammering again yet but I was wondering what projects I could do using this lathe blade / bit that I picked up the other day?

[Gobae]

Some other type of blade would be the obvious answer. But if you can determine what type of steel lathe blades are typically made from you could probably made quite a number of other tools from it.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be one of the High Speed Steels (HSS). Many woodworking blades are switching to them because they can used and sharpened without regard for over heating. This works because their annealing range doesn't start until something like 1300-1500F. So bluing a blade doesn't affect it at all.

If it does turn out to be HSS, it'll make very nice hot chisels and other tools like that.

[John B]

HSS steels? Chisels? I was always under the impression that it was ver brittle and likely to fracture if struck.

This is based on the fact that when I was an apprentice engineer somebody caught a punch with a hammer, the punch fractured and embedded itself into my hand, the first I knew of it was when I saw blood trickling onto the floor.

A piece of the punch about 3/8" long was removed by the works nurse. Since then I have been very wary of using HSS tools for anything other than the purpose they were designed for.

I would be interested in others experiences if they have safely used HSS for tools other than turning/milling/machining operations.

[ThomasPowers]

HSS steels often need fairly precise forging requirements and do best with very precise heat treat---much more than typical blacksmith heat treating.

So if you have been away from the forge a while it might be best to start with something a bit more forgiving.

[Glenn]

post your image in the IForgeIron Gallery. The gallery will automatically resize the image to the proper size for the forum.

Right click on the image in the forum. Click on properties and copy the lower URL.

In your forum post click on "go advanced"
Click on "manage attachments"
Go to "Upload File from a URL" and paste the URL into that box
Click on the LOWER upload button
Repeat as needed for additional images

When you finish adding images click on the red x on the images box to close only that image box

Save the post and images by clicking on "submit reply"

The images will appear as thumbnails under your post. Click on the thumbnail and the larger image will appear.

It is a little long winded until you do a couple of them, then it is easy.

[Gobae]

HSS steels? Chisels? I was always under the impression that it was ver brittle and likely to fracture if struck.

It's not that bad. Bring the HSS up to orange and hold for 15 minutes, then leave in the hot coals and let the fire die out. That will effectively give you the ultra slow cool down that HSS requires.

I've made wood chisels, lathe tools, and HOT cuts from HSS w/o any issues.

[Ice Czar]

've made wood chisels, lathe tools

the first and second items that came to mind
(in reverse order )

3. gravers (specific profiles)
4. scrapers (wood or metal)
5. repousse chasing chisels

[mike-hr]

I needed a quick broach for turning 3/8 round holes into square holes. I ground a square taper in a 3/8 lathe bit, and used a .045" slitting wheel to carve teeth. It worked under the H-press and hand hammer. I used a soft hammer to minimize shrapnel.