[TheForge] Stainless steel

[Ries Niemi]

I would  try making one tool from ordinary garden variety 304 stainless.
Its cheap, as stainless goes, readily available in all kinds of shapes, 
and forges just fine.
Takes more force per blow than mild steel, but it can be hand forged, 
especially in smaller sizes like you want.
I dont much like hand forging 1 1/2" round. But 1/4"- no problem.

Leave it in as forged condition, and it is dark gray/brown.
The only one of your conditions it doesnt meet is heat treatable- in 
fact, heat and quench anneals it, so its best to let it air cool after 
forging for maximum hardness.
But considering how tough it is, and its higher tensile strength, I 
doubt it needs heat treatment.

Anyway, make a sample tool, and see how it works. My guess is that its 
plenty tough enough for your needs.

ries

On Aug 31, 2006, at 8:43 AM, Saint Phlip wrote:

> 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....
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Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com