noware Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 tl;dr - how much is fair to pay for S7 punches from tablet press. Some dies available too. I have an opportunity to buy a 10 or so used (and defaced) punches from pharmaceutical tablet presses. He said make an offer. They are S7 steel (he said he has spec sheet) Not sure on brand. The round punch faces are the size of either regular Advil to large Tums antacid chewables. The oblong faced punches are the size of a Tylenol There are some dies available too. I recently took a class on making chests and the instructor had some re-purposed punches that worked well for cutting "D" shaped slots and key holes. It seems like there are quite a few other potential uses for these (touchmark, chisels, punches, etc). I'm not sure about reshaping the tooling into bar stock, but could definitely reshape the ends to make chisels and such. I have the equipment to heat treat S7 too. I don't want to get ripped off and I don't want to insult the guy (and there may be more punches available in the future). I've attached an image that is similar to what the instructor had and what the guy said he had. Thoughts on a fair price? I'm not looking for the deal of the century, and am willing to pay a fair price, just don't want to get taken for a ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 I'd offer him a dollar a pop and see what he says. You can always go up and he doesn't know what they're worth either. Or you can tell him to name his price and give him the old horse trader line, "I can't buy and sell this for you." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 If you had the press to use them in, it would be worth it. Otherwise you are just padding his pocket. You aren't going to reforge them, You may use them for some "Garden Art". You are the one with the vision, you can see the glitter like the Crow. The Crow takes lots of shiney things! Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Why wouldn't he reforge them into something useable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 These show up wherever there is a pharmaceutical company, they get changed out on a regular basis. Someone or another has been tailgate selling these around the NC-ABANA meetings for years for a buck or two apiece. It is a LOT of work to forge these by hand, but do-able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noware Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 1 hour ago, John McPherson said: These show up wherever there is a pharmaceutical company, they get changed out on a regular basis. Someone or another has been tailgate selling these around the NC-ABANA meetings for years for a buck or two apiece. It is a LOT of work to forge these by hand, but do-able. Thank you, appreciate the info. I'll likely not reforge them, but grind to shape. Although I won't be able to resist try to forge at least one. And if I can get them for a couple bucks a piece, not a big deal if I destroy a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 They're worth local scrap price, a few cents a pound. Unless someone consistent has large quantities of special steel the scrapper doesn't give more than steel scrap price. A buck each is way better than they'd get from the scrappers IF they bother to do more than round file them. I'd offer a buck apiece, your buddy is probably saving them from the dumpster so a ten spot makes it worth the effort. It's not an insult, want to bet the company has rather severe policies about employees taking stuff, new or trash? I'd jump on it even if he held out for a $20 I just wouldn't the next time he offered them. I'd love a chance to play with them. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noware Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 13 hours ago, Ranchmanben said: I'd offer him a dollar a pop and see what he says. You can always go up and he doesn't know what they're worth either. Or you can tell him to name his price and give him the old horse trader line, "I can't buy and sell this for you." will use that saying...i hate it when people say "make an offer"...in his defense, i think he is being nice and if i said any price he'd be ok with it...just don't want to be ridiculously low. 16 minutes ago, Frosty said: They're worth local scrap price, a few cents a pound. Unless someone consistent has large quantities of special steel the scrapper doesn't give more than steel scrap price. A buck each is way better than they'd get from the scrappers IF they bother to do more than round file them. I'd offer a buck apiece, your buddy is probably saving them from the dumpster so a ten spot makes it worth the effort. It's not an insult, want to bet the company has rather severe policies about employees taking stuff, new or trash? I'd jump on it even if he held out for a $20 I just wouldn't the next time he offered them. I'd love a chance to play with them. Frosty The Lucky. If he has/can get more, i'll send them to you if you'd like. Flat rate shipping is pretty reasonable from MI to AK. 12 hours ago, swedefiddle said: You are the one with the vision, you can see the glitter like the Crow. The Crow takes lots of shiney things! I really like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 I reforged an S1 pharm punch into my favorite slitting chisel, left the top alone and just forged out the end into a lovely rocker curve. I have a handle to fit it and it's one of my most used tools. First time to heat treat S1 and read up on it in the ASM handbook---no normalization! Which was unusual for me... Why grind when you can forge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noware Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 34 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said: I reforged an S1 pharm punch into my favorite slitting chisel, left the top alone and just forged out the end into a lovely rocker curve. I have a handle to fit it and it's one of my most used tools. First time to heat treat S1 and read up on it in the ASM handbook---no normalization! Which was unusual for me... Why grind when you can forge! Great info, i will definitely try some forging. I was thinking the preformed top and recessed barrel would be beneficial for making strike tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 I used to have a set of tongs that fit the recess perfectly and used a tong ring from a short section of pipe hammered oval to hold it all the time...Till I taught a class at the university and one of the students managed to miss the top of the chisel and hit the tongs 3 times with a sledge before I could stop them. Now the tongs are broken and I have forged a less fancy holder for the chisel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 56 minutes ago, noware said: If he has/can get more, i'll send them to you if you'd like. Flat rate shipping is pretty reasonable from MI to AK. I really like that! I'll be more than happy to cover the flat rate and what you give for them. Thank you. PM me please. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 I would offer local scrap price per pound. The dies are not much use unless you can install them in a press to keep the alignment correct. Other than that you might be able to make some yard art with them, or maybe figure out how to make a jig or two. Although if the shape goes all the way through they could make some interesting extruding dies for ceramics. S-7 is not terribly expensive when you consider that if you get a piece of new bar stock you do not have to work around features the punches have. With the punches you have to work around the shape they are to make what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranchmanben Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 I wouldn't think it would be tough to reforge those punches as long as you work them HOT. The dies on the other hand look pretty useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kailey Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Offer him $0.25lb that is 3x current scrap prices. Remember, you see value in this steel but it is useless to him and scrap price is only $160 a ton or $.08 a pound anything above that is bonus to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 The price may not be based on scrap price but on the price he can sell them at at blacksmithing conferences. I certainly don't pay scrap price for H13 injection mold pins at Quad-State! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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