[TheForge] Chasing and engraving

Mon Mar 31 13:28:00 2003

> If you don't want to buy tool steel a coil spring can yield a lot of
> small chisels and plenty of practice pieces to try tempering with
> (Older GM springs were said to be 5160). I've had good luck using coil
> spring for tooling...

For small tools -- engraving, inlay and chasing -- I've used a coil
spring from a commercial garage door.  I cut off about 3" of the coil,
heat evenly, put it over a mandrel and walk away, holding the end of
the stock in vise grips.  Makes 10' or so of good small diameter tool
stock. 

As Larry said,

>  ...just make a few test pieces to try hardening and tempering
> before you spend a lot of time making tools from it.

- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada 

[email protected]            
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/