[TheForge] Suggestions needed for scroungeable steel

[Bruce Freeman]

I'm designing another treadle hammer, a lightweight job.  I want the ram
to be 20#.  What would be ideal is square or roundstock of about 2
sq.in. in cross-section (i.e., 2" square or 2.25" round) and about 18"
long.  
 
Ideally, the material would be suitable for use as a hammer, with
ordinary hardening & tempering.  Exotic materials not needed, but mild
steel wouldn't be appropriate unless faced with tool steel (a
possibility I'd prefer to avoid).
 
Since I prefer to design in scroungeable materials, I could use some
suggestions as to sources of such steel.  The truck axles I've seen are
of smaller diameter than this (though I've seen tractors with axles of
3" dia.).  Track pins seem to be shorter than this - like 8" or so. 
Anyone have any other suggestions - preferably of materials you'd have
no particular trouble scrounging yourself?
 
Thanks in advance,
 
Bruce
NJ
 
 
 
 
 


--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
The reason this message is shown is because the post was in HTML
or had an attachment.  Attachments are not allowed.  To learn how
to post in Plain-Text go to: http://www.expita.com/nomime.html  ---