[TheForge] Needful things...

[Mike Linn]

At 11:15 PM 12/17/2006, you wrote:
>I need a few items, and some information, and if it's smithing, I
>kinda think I know who to ask, so guys, help me out please ;-)
>
>I need a piece of square or rectangular bar stock, maybe 2-3 inches
>long. It should be about medium carbon, the dimensions can be 2" X 3"
>in any direction, as long as it's no more or no less than 2-3 inches,
>and it must be square or rectangular. Also, it MUST be scrap, rather
>than new steel. What do you guys suggest? NOT stainless- simple high
>carbon.

Im a little confused as to why it MUST be scrap iron as it will be really 
difficult to know what material you have. I would go to something like the 
metals supermarket
http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/  and pick it up from them, they deal in 
drops and might have what you need.


>I will need to drill this metal, hopefully in an annealed state, with
>a hole about 3/8" in diameter, about an inch deep. What do you guys
>suggest for:
>
>Type of drill bit
>Type of lubricant
>Annealing method

I would try drilling it with a TiN drill, using tapping fluid as a lube.
Annealing may or may not be needed depending on what you get. If it does 
need annealing, then heat it to non magnetic and drop it in a pile of 
vermiculite. If vermiculite is not available bury in you ash pile and let 
it sit for a day or so.



>And, finally, I'll need to harden the face once I've shaped it. What
>method do you suggest?

Het to non magnetic and swish the face around in transmission fluid or 
motor oil. I use Transmission fluid because it has a higher ignition point 
and doesn't smoke as bad as motor oil.



>Second. I'm wanting to make a cut-off hardy (although it won't go into
>an anvil) from a piece of car spring I intend to abuse into shape.
>
>How best to anneal it?
>How best to harden the edge when I'm finished abusing it?

Anneal and harden the same as above. Stay away from water.....


>Anybody got any suggestions for high temp clay pipe, maybe 8" to 12"
>long, 1 1/2-2" internal diameter? thickness of walls is not a
>consideration, but a scrounged piece is preferable.

Make one from refractory cement, using 2 pipes as a mold...

mike


>--
>Saint Phlip
>
>Heat it up
>Hit it hard
>Repent as necessary.
>
>Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no 
>help.
>
>Psalm 146
>King James Bible
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            Mike Linn
      Artist Blacksmith
          McCalla, AL
        AFC Webmaster
http://afc.abana-chapter.com

______________________________________________________________________

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how
   close they were to success when they gave up. "
   ~ Thomas A. Edison
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