[TheForge] Dies

[PlumDon at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/4/2007 10:57:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,  
pesetsky at Princeton.EDU writes:

Going to take a trip to the steel supplier this weekend and I  was
wondering what some of you guys are using for die material on your  air
hammers?

All my dies, from Dean Curfman at Oak Hill Iron (Old and  New Big Blue 
hammers) are 4140. His mounting and tempering directions  are:

Position top and bottom dies and attachment plates on hammer and  make sure 
they are perfectly aligned.
Tack in position with about 3/4" weld  bead, one on each end and two on each 
side about a third of the way in, top and  bottom. 
Put in a cold forge and bring up as slow as possible. Take to  non-magnetic 
and let soak for at least ten minutes. 

Harden in a 5 gal  pail of oil. Stir actively while cooling. 
Using a hook through a mounting  hole might be a good way to handle.
Cool to about 150 so you can just juggle  it in your hands
Immediately put in a toaster oven set to max....around  400
Let it temper for 2 hours
When cool, may have to flatten  ongrinder.


Hope this helps

Don Plummer
 



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