[TheForge] spring steel thread

[Andrew Vida]

David E. Smucker wrote:
> Lee,
> 
> Many springs are 5160, others maybe 1095 or other alloys.  New auto 
> springs are "who knows what" but since you seem to be talking about 
> older springs --  assume they are 5160.
> 
> 5160 is a chrome steel with 60 points of carbon or 6 tens of 1 percent 
> carbon.  5160 is oil hardening.  If hardened it should be tempered -- 
> and I would do that in a oven at 400 F for 1 hour.
> 
> BUT -- for most uses as blacksmithing tools you do not need to heat 
> treat this steel.  Just forge your tool and let it air cool.  Dan Tull 
> has been doing this for years and he is older than dirt.  Some of his 
> tools maybe older than dirt too.

	Finally someone else speaks the truth too.  Until this moment, I felt 
so alone.

	-Andy <sniff> <sniff> V.