Alfie Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I have access to a lot of horribly rusty, blunt and huge drillbits although i could easily use the shanks, would it be possible to clean them up, take it to welding (bright orange?) heat and forge into round bar? thanks Alfie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I believe HS steel is pretty hot short but I may have that wrong. Wasn't there a thread about forging with drill bits here just recently? Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Mulholland - Tetnum Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 careful if it gets to hot it will likely turn it to a iron sand and go every ware Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 commonly M2 but not always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Oh, M2, that makes sense. There's a lot of search hits with M2 steel.Tool Steel M2 - All Metals & Forge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGropp Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Since when is bright orange a welding heat? Just buy some new stock of a known designation and get on with it . Even new, steel is still relatively cheap . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulciber Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Since when is bright orange a welding heat? Just buy some new stock of a known designation and get on with it . Even new, steel is still relatively cheap . I agree in the sense that trying to make round stock out of something is kinda a waste of time. Just go get some round stock. Depending where you are and what you are doing with the round stock, rebar can be easily found. Otherwise just buy some round stock to begin with. Go by a couple fabrication shops that do railings and such. I scored a 55 gallon drum full of stuff too short for them to use. Lots of 1/2" round and square just under 3' long. The other half the drum was filled with pieces between 6 and 12" of all sorts. Ended up helping him load a truck in exchange for the metal he was going to scrap. Don't be afraid to ask, you never know what you might get. Always be sure to ask though. Don't ever take anything otherwise. Look up all your local metal recycling places. There's one not too far from where I am that doesn't pay for steel. Anyone brings them steel they put it in a big dumpster and they don't mind cutting a deal once they know what you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I wouldn't bother trying to forge the fluting back into a bar, just untwist and use as flat. Or use the bits for something else just because you can buy new steel, doesn't been that should throw away good old steel ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Hey, that's a nice little knife!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 You could wind and soft solder some grounding wire in that knife to give it a bit more to the handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 it's a 1/4" drill bit, so was only ever a novelty but could be a nice little craft knife as is. I've made larger knives from 1/2" and wrapped the 'handle' with leather, which was quite cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Thompson Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I was so impressed by your little knife that I've just made a similar one from a 20mm SDS drill. The forging cleaned up and polished nicely but doesn't seem to take a very good edge. I tempered it at a dark yellow, I'll try a bit bluer tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I was so impressed by your little knife that I've just made a similar one from a 20mm SDS drill. The forging cleaned up and polished nicely but doesn't seem to take a very good edge. I tempered it at a dark yellow, I'll try a bit bluer tomorrow. What is the problem with your knife? Is it too hard to put a good edge on it? What are you using to hone it with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 ah the joys of recycling steel: you never know what it's made of! I always take a bit of the unknown tool and quench to find the right liquid and then draw the temper at different teperatures to find the right one. It's a pain in the bum, but at least it means that i'm not going to sell something that is only good as a paperweight That's how I worked out that this spanner was pretty poor steel, but with a super quench I could get it to about 55RC I did a series of totally recycled knives. The drill bit has a sheath made form a leather suitcase and sewn up with fishing line i found on the beach. The spanner has a scap of leather wastecoat, scrap of old para cord scrap of leather jacket and an end of waxed thread that I use for sewing sheathes; the sheath is more suitcase and sewn up with a broken dacron bowstring. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Now that's recycling ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Sam, Did you say 20mm drill? That sure isn't a letter opener. Dave, I like the wrench knife, what else do you have?:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted November 26, 2008 Author Share Posted November 26, 2008 thanks guys I might have myself a go at one of they spanner knives... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Thompson Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 What is the problem with your knife? Is it too hard to put a good edge on it? What are you using to hone it with? Yes, I think so; I've retempered it at a blueish brown colour. It seems ok now. I've given it away and expect reports on its performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 The spanners I found were prety rubbish steel, but it's a bit of fun none the less When I learnt to forge I spent a lot of time creating scrap, so I only used old springs, files, etc. Then when I started getting the hang of it and began earning a living from my baldes I couldn't take the chance on unknown steels that could contain flaws. So I switched to virgin steel and now I onlyu use recycled stock if I'm going to keep its original character such as: Chainsaw files Chisels (beveled edge chisel, broken hammer handle and the suitcase again) A flymo (lawnmower) blade Another file sorry I seem to have hijacked your thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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