[TheForge] Sorry to break in with a blacksmithing question

[Keporter at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/18/2005 3:05:43 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
davesmucker at hotmail.com writes:

Because  he is using H13 it may not really matter which he does first.  The  
tempering temperature for the H13 is 1000 degree F.  Still I would  weld 
first, then heat treat, then temper.

For the H13 you should  preheat to at least 400 F, then make your welds.

Now heat treat the  whole thing.  For H13 you need to heat the die material 
to 1850  F.  This is well above the non-magnetic point.  Get you hands on a  
temperature vs. color chart and use that to gauge temperature, assuming  you 
do not have a heat treat furnace.  Heat SLOWLY as you bring the  die up to 
temperature.  Handbooks say to hold a temperature for 30  minutes per inch of 
thickness.  You can short this some but don't be  in a big hurry.  Now remove 
the die from the forge and AIR quench  it.  That is set it on the side of the 
forge and let it air  cool.  When it gets down to where you can touch it 
temper it right  away.  (Don't wait over night.)

Now temper.  Reheat the die  to 1000 F.  In very dull light (almost dark) it 
will just start to  glow a dark red at this temperature.  For this tempering 
I use a  torch -- and heat slowly.  Let air cool.  In industry we would  
temper a second time, but you can get away without this.  You die  should be 
about a Rockwell C of 51 to 54.

Hot metal will not draw  these dies.  We used H13 and H11 type alloys for hot 
mill rolls and  could get their temperature up to 1000 F and not have any  
problems.

Dave Smucker


That was such a good description I'm tempted to build something just  for the 
fun of following it. This will go into my files until I find a project  for 
it. If it makes its way into a book I'll give you credit for it, Dave  
("...following directions first mentioned by Dave Smuker, I blah, blah, etc.,  etc.).
Mike P.