[TheForge] Tool steel heat

[Dave Smucker]

In one word -- Bullshit.

If the author means that a finished and heat treated hot work tool should 
not be heated beyond a red heat -- or it will loose some properties he may 
be right depended on the type of tool steel.

Almost all of the tool steels that blacksmtihs use, W1, O1, S1, S7, A2, H13 
need to be heated to a higher temperature for forging.  One of the 
limitations is that too hot, and they may break up, too cold and you can't 
forge them.  The hot work tool steels such as H13 and S7 are so stong at a 
red heat that forging them at this temperature is nearly impossible.  (at 
least by hand).

Best way to learn about this is to get a few pieces of S7 or h13 and make 
some hot cuts from them.  A number of folks sell short lengths at major 
blacksmith events.

Dave Smucker

>From: "Harry" <iowaharry at fastmail.net>
>Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: [TheForge] Tool steel heat
>Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:03:12 -0500
>
>Hi All,
>
>    On some online reading I found a statement that tool steel should
>    never be heated past a red heat or it will be ruined. Is this true?
>
>Statement found at:
>http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/preservation/smithy/chpt2b.htm#fig5
>
>thanks, Harry
>--
>   Harry
>   iowaharry at fastmail.net
>
>--
>http://www.fastmail.fm - Does exactly what it says on the tin
>
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