[TheForge] Superquench/hardening power hammer dies

[PlumDon at aol.com]

Morning, Ralph, et al;
 
Happy New Year to all.
 
Kindest thanks,Ralph for your great response regarding power hammer dies  and 
tempering, etc. That is a keeper and now appropriately filed for future  
reference. 
 
I have several dies purchased from a couple different  vendors...all of 
4140...presumably. I rather doubt that any of them are  hardened, or even 
half-hardened. I suspect there are a lot of folks using  purchased dies that are not 
heat treated. Mine are holding up pretty well with  only an occasional dressing 
required. I have been heating and just welding to  the plates, also. But I 
think I will try your "half hardening" approach and see  if it makes any 
difference. A most excellent suggestion. Bungling up the  hardening and tempering of 
power hammer dies can create a serious hazard if you  over harden. As 
apparently, you are well aware. Additionally, having spent four  years living in New 
Hampshire I can well recall those 25 below mornings and what  they can do to a 
piece of metal. I like the idea of working with softer  dies.
 
I recently came into about 1500 pounds of 52100 all in round stock. About  4' 
long and 1/4" to 3/4" round. Mandrels from a tubing manufacturer. It is  
tremendously tough stuff without any significant heat treating. But I dont know  
if I could get it into enough mass to make 2" x 4" dies. Tempted to try welding 
 it together and hot shaping. But I suspect it would never hold together.  
Nevertheless, it does make good tools. 
 
Thanks, again, Ralph for some or your always, very helpful  information
Don
 
Don  Plummer
Plummer Design Works
392 Hallman Mill Road
Phoenixville, PA  19460
610-495-5058