[TheForge] Stainless steel

[Jeffrey Polaski]

Just another thought: couldn't you just buy some stainless? I know it
won't look like regular carbon steel if it's polished up, but after a
little hot work I'd think it would be hard to tell the difference. Now
that I think of it, I have a few 1/2"-ish bars of stainless I could send
you, if you're interested. 

Surgical stainless would probably work well. I'm sure there are some
knife makers who could tell you quite a bit more...

Jeff Polaski
Research and Graduate Studies Webmaster
University of California, Irvine
http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
949.824.6363

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Saint Phlip
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:44 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA; knife-list at kepler-eng.com
Subject: [TheForge] Stainless steel

I'm looking for advice in choosing and playing with stainless steel
for a particular project.

There are a lot of leatherworkers about, and they need tools. Many, of
course, can be bought through modern suppliers, such as Tandy and
Leather Factory, but some folks want specific tools for specific
historical periods.

However, using a plain carbon steel isn't a good idea- the iron reacts
with the tannins and the water in the leather, leaving black marks
(veggie tanned leather, which is what you use for tooling, must be
dampened to leave an impression), so the modern toolmakers make the
tool, and plate it with chrome.

Making specific tools isn't difficult, insofar as shaping the handle
and the business end. What IS difficult is finding the right steel.

Characteristics needed-

Doesn't leave black marks on the leather
Tough enough to do the job for quite a number of impressions (I've
used a particular tool on a single project a couple hundred times or
more, for a repetitive pattern)
Reasonably easy to heat treat
Reasonably easy to acquire
Looks rather like a good carbon steel
Comes in reasonably useful shapes- small hex, round, or square- 1/4" or
so.

Any suggestions? Or, any suggestions for other materials that might do
the job?


-- 
Saint Phlip

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Has anyone seen my temper?
I seem to have misplaced it at Stalag XXXV....
_______________________________________________
Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
theforge mail list group photo site is
http://www.photoaccess.com
Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
password:  anvil
___________