I'm just getting into blacksmithing and need to make some tools, punches, drifts etc.

i have access to about 10 or 20 ft of 1" hex drill rod that was for a rock drill. I know that it is a hard tool steel that would most likely make good tools. However it has a 1/4" hole in the center of the rod for air to get to the drill bit. I think it is rusted enough and dirty inside that I can't just get it hot fill it with flux and then forge weld it solid, which was my first idea.  If someone has some insite on how to use this metal I would appreciate it. 

Thanks 

There is another thread about rivet headers; could be worthwhile to look at that! 

Another approach would be to cut the rod in two. That is a longitudinal cut. Then forge the two lengths separately Then there would be no chance of an incomplete forge weld.

SLAG.

Slag, I had thought about doing that but I don't have access to a band saw. I defininitly don't have the time to heat it and cut it with a chisel. I'm kinda at a loss for an efficient way to cut it. Any ideas would be appreciated 

 

Do any of your friends have a metal cutting band saw, chop saw, or angle grinder with a thin cutting wheel attachment?

There should be some smiths near you that can assist you.

Failing all other options, you could rent a suitable tool and use it for an hour or three.

SLAG.

get another steel rod, same diameter as hole....insert, flux and weld

1 minute ago, Steve Sells said:

get another steel rod, same diameter as hole....insert, flux and weld

If the 1" hex is tool steel, and you plan to use it for tooling, you may want to get some carbon steel for the inside to make sure its all usable. Might make for an interesting heat treat, though. 

or at least save a piece for a tennoning tool, may come in handy for a future project that you don't know about yet.

                                                                                                   Littleblacksmith

What about using a rifle brush to clean out the rust with vinegar or something similar as the (soap) to clean it out. Don't give up too easily on the solution!

Cut it into sections and sell it for tennon tools and pipe tomahawk bowls, and go find some heavy coil springs for punches and drifts. Some things are not worth the aggravation. Your (limited play) time is worth something too. Mine certainly is!

I'd simply add it to my stock untill it found itself a job......no point splitting, reforging, coring or even cleaning untill you know what it is to be made in to!

Keep it as-is for those times when you need the hole, like John says.  For all the effort it'd take to forge-weld it solid, you could more cheaply buy the appropriate alloy of steel that's already solid.  Same with cutting it in half and flattening the pieces.  It will always be mystery metal, and known alloys will save you a lot of headaches when you're trying to make tools.

Of course, a foot or so of it would be great for when you need a monkey tool or three.  Depending on the size of the hole in the middle, you could make a nice range of monkey tools and riveting gear simply by cutting the bar to the right length and drilling the hole to the right diameter.  I know I sure would like a few chunks for just that!

 

Welcome aboard Donk glad to have you. You're getting mighty close to making a mistake we all make, thinking just because you have it or got it free you have to think of something to do with it. Then you make another common enough mistake, spending more time and money trying to get something to work than it is to just go buy what you need or want.

Air track steels (what you have) can be any of a number of alloys making it mystery metal. Just because your HS drill bit won't go through it doesn't make it "tool steel". Drill steels are made to be tough not hard, the bits have to be both but bits aren't 10' long, a bit length is typically under 5' and some simply screw to the lead flight.

How do I k now it's air track steel? A 1/4" bore hole is to carry compressed air to the bit to cool it and blow chips up out of the hole.

My recommendation is to whack off a foot or so to play with and put the rest on the rack if for nothing else trading stock. It's good steel but you don't know what it really is and that means you have to determine it's suitability for every tool steel needing job you want to use it for.

Frosty The Lucky.

monkey tools.

Pipe tomahawk: clean out the blade end with a drill bit and forge weld it solid.  Widen the other end for the pipe bowl and neck around it to off set it.

old post but I have a bunch of the same metal that I got for free.  Yesterday I smooshed a short chunk of it down for a nail header.   My plan for it though is to incorporate into a railing or as a leg of furniture or similar.    In my case I have about 40 feet of it or something that I got for free and there is no money way up north here from scrap yards.

If you have room just set it aside till a project needs to be made from that quality steel. Just because you have something does NOTY mean you HAVE to use it. It's good for impact tools, and things that need good resistance to bending, say pry bars, etc. It won't harden enough to make good chisels and punches though. Maybe a decent small splitting wedge for kindling at the wood stove.

Folks in the oil patch in the lower 48 oil areas use old sucker rod for fence posts. It's a similar grade steel but a different shape and use.

Frosty The Lucky.