[TheForge] Subject: Suggestions needed for scroungeablesteel

[Andy Vida]

Bruce Freeman wrote:
> 
> Ken,
> 
> Case-hardened mild steel is not suitable for a hammer face.  The depth
> of hard steel is to little (perhaps 1/16") and in some cases a hard face
> on a soft base can be counterproductive.  Andy Vida tried this idea (not
> case-hardened, but some commercially applied hardfacing) and the
> hardfacing shattered, IIRC.  Not good.

	That was on a hammer die.  The problem there was the face was
	only about 1/4" thick.  Should have been at least 1/2" or even
	3/4, but it was $$ enough at 1/4".  As you recall it was an
	experiment in potential materials for facing anvils.
> 
> By "facing" I meant the addition of a significant chunk of hard steel.
> This would probably have to be welded on.  In principle it could be
> forge-welded on, but in practice that might be a bitch to do.

	I remember Peter Ross telling a crowd what a bitch it can be
	to forge weld a 1" square face onto a hammer head.  He said
	as you get larger the bitch-factor goes way up.  Gives some
	perspective on the skill of the smiths who used to weld the
	faces on to anvils... even small ones.

> Conceivably it could be attached in another way, say by loop and wedge,
> like top tools on Spencer's TH, but that merely changes how the welding
> has to be done.

	It could also be jump-welded, but I think you would have a
	time of finding someone with an apparatus capable of doing
	a weld that size.
> 
> Thanks for the Fazzio's contact info.  I hve visted them, but they're
> too far away for frequent trips.  I just requested a quote.  However, I
> suspect places like Fazzio's are not too common...

	Head down to Beacon in Freehold one night before dropping in
	on Marshal.  They may have what you seek.

	Oh, another possibility: machine the head and anvil to
	accept dies like a power hammer.  MOre involved, yes, 
	but opens up some interesting top and bottom tool 
	possibilities, especially if you have a quick change
	mount... but perhaps this is getting a bit afield of
	the intended simplicity behind the design.