Hello I'm new to the community and hope that I'm not over stepping. But I need help with making Dies for a Champion No. 0 does the entire die need to be tool steel or can the dovetail portion and the plate be mild? Also what about the keys used to wedge the die in the sow block? Hardened ? Are they tapered? Someone please help.

 

Good Morning,

Welcome to our world, what part of it are you making a shadow?? If you put your locale in your Avatar, we will know how to help you.

I made my Dies from T-1, not hardened, about 30 years ago. They still take a Lickin', keep on Tickin'. The Keys are not hard. If the Dies are too hard, they shatter instead of moving around. Never Too Hard!!

Neil