pierosoleil Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 is there anything "wrong" with designing/building a two piece die; with the dovetail part bolted to the striking part of the die ?? Seems to me the hardest and thus more expensive part to machine is the dovetail section... Then the striking section could be a "chunk of metal" found at local steel pile/store/ebay/junk and then drilled, tapped and assembled to the dovetail. Or am i missing something.... ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 You are focussing the stresses on a smaller area and so more prone to stress related failures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedar Crest Forge Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 15 hours ago, pierosoleil said: designing/building a two piece die Little Giant has been selling dies with this design, as the "two piece interchangeable system". How well it holds up under stress, I don't know, but they have been selling them since 2002. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 I'd like to get a read out from a high level production shop that uses them; most hobby shops would probably be fine and prefer the lower price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierosoleil Posted May 30, 2019 Author Share Posted May 30, 2019 thanks for the info/suggestions... i wasn't aware that Little Giant made these. Upon investigating i see that they have the bolts on the sides, heads facing towards the "outside". I was thinking having them in the body of the dovetail, thus fastening thru the dovetail itself, the threads being in the die. My drive is that i have a length of S7 steel, plenty for making a few dies, but not quite thick enough. If i could bolt on a dovetail onto these then i'll be OK. The hammer i bought this past spring in missing its dies and the sow block. What do you fellows opine; for the sow block... should i build one up using thick bolted-up steel plate sections (standing vertically), or have one cast and machined (more expensive). Do i need any "special" steel if i go with the build up option ? (BTW; it's so great to have this forum, where one can find a "big brother" to help around and make intelligent suggestions.... thanks-a-million ! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 Best to machine it from solid block, casting would be good if you can afford it but would still require machining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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