Power Hammer and Hydraulic Press Die Material

[Jspool]

I have been offered a 14" x 16" x 1.25" chunk of A572 steel.  It was originally purchased as a winch foundation.

Although I was told that it was a hard alloy, I can't really see where the properties are much different than A36 mild steel.

Can someone tell me whether this material will be better to use for power hammer and hydraulic press dies than mild steel?

 

Thanks

[ThomasPowers]

According to the specs it's not a hard alloy as they extol it's ductility and it's used for structural steel components.  It will probably be better than 1018 or 1020; but I'd go for a better die steel.

[BeaverNZ]

I was given a large piece of 20mm SS400 which was a structural steel and I used it in the guide of the cutting head of a log splitter I made a few years ago and it proved to be prone to picking up and gouging when it wore against its self I think it is intended to have a lot of ductility for earthquakes so it gives to absorb energy. I wouldnt use it again instead I would use just mild steel or a higher tensile steel

[Jspool]

Thanks guys

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Standard size forklift forks are in the 4xxx series of steels and will make a good die.

[Andrew T]

I believe many fork tines are currently made from boron steel like 15b30/15b41. I made flat dies for a press with this steel and it seems to hold up ok so far.

I was able to band saw, drill and tap and use with no additional heat treat.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I contacted a few lift manufacturers and they all said 4000 series steels like 4140, 4340. They did say that once you got into the big lifts(not stated how big) they changed the alloys.