Quenching/cooling ductile iron drift?

[Pat Masterson]

Hey guys. Seems like they same product is on multiple sites - like, Amazon, eBay etc - all described basically the same same way as large tomahawk & hammer/ mouse ax drift and made from ductile iron. My anvil is ductile iron and I love it but they’ll never be a time I’m quenching it lol - I did some reading on if you can quench when using as a drift and I seem to be getting varying answers….if I’m drifting with this and using it as a handle to work cheeks and all that can I quench them off? If not at a red heat then once it shows no color whatsoever?

 

 

 

[Latticino]

Have one and quench once color doesn't show, IF I need to quench.  Ideally you should work the drift pretty hot so it doesn't suck the heat out of your stock.  I find these really work a bit better as mandrels rather than drifts, but I weld my sockets typically so need to worry about "popping" the weld.

[ThomasPowers]

I'd definitely suggest forging a "rough out" version out of a tough steel and use the ductile one as the "finish" version.

[Pat Masterson]

Ok…Thanks guys 

[anvil]

Let it air cool, and don't quench. I'd suggest making your own. Use any handy steel. 

[JHCC]

On 4/4/2022 at 4:27 PM, Latticino said:

Ideally you should work the drift pretty hot so it doesn't suck the heat out of your stock.

That's a good point.