[TheForge] Stainless steel

[XLCH58 at swbell.net]

Saint Phlip wrote:

> 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?
>
Stainlesswith the properties you want will be difficult to work.
 It is also expensive.  An alternative would be to make it out of
plain carbon steel (O-1 or whatever yoiu are most comfortable
with) and nickel plate it.    Brownell's sells an electrless
nickel plating kit, that can be found here:

<http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1069&title=ELEC
TROLESS+NICKEL+PLATING>

It is not cheap, but may be cheaper for you in the long run,
particularily as you only have to plate the business end anyway,
and the rest can be painted, or oil finished.   You also will
only plate your successes. 

Charles