[TheForge] Stainless steel

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

Hi Phlip;
I'd respectfully suggest that you return to regular high carbon 
tool steels and simply dry and oil them after each work session. 
Wrapping them in an oily rag works well.
Assuming you are making  struck tools...stamps, decorative 
punches and the like, the stainless alloys will be  more time 
consuming to make because you won't be able to anneal them as 
effectively.
Tannic acid mostly seems to make that black stained surface on 
steel with a bloom of rust on it....and needs a bit of soaking at 
that. Very little effect on clean steel.

Rick wrote:
> Hello Phlip -
>    I would try some with T-304 stainless.  It is the cheapest and 
> easiest to find shapes of.  Most common.  Try a couple and see how they 
> work, as it can not be heat treated well.  (As far as I know.)  If that 
> isn't hard enough, then you will need to try some other tool steel, such 
> as (I would think) a high chromium containing steel for the water 
> resistance.
> 
> Rick Crawford at Rafter Lazy C
>  Home of Smoky Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
>   In the middle of Northern Illinois
> 
>    http://www.smokyforge.com
>     rick at smokyforge.com
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Saint Phlip" <phlip at 99main.com>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>; 
> <knife-list at kepler-eng.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:43 AM
> 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....
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> 
> 
>