Sea Farmer
Diamond
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2006
- Location
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts
I want to make some blacksmithing tools, nail headers. Have diligently searched the books, online, etc. and settled on these two alloys as having suitable characteristics for the header: 4140 or 8620. I know some sources suggest other alloys, but these are the most available to me.
Although I'm certainly open to suggestions of others?
My design calls for me to make the header out of 1.25" round, about 1/4" thick, then welded to a short mild steel handle. Stick welder. Shouldn't be much stress on the weld.
Literature says 8620 welds easier. True? 6011 or 7024 sticks work ok for this?
For the curious, the nail header is made by doming the end of a rod of the alloy steel with a grinder or on a lathe, then slicing off a 1/4" (approx) section, and drilling/drifting a square hole in the center. The hole is not straight through but has an "hourglass" sort of profile, to help extract the nail, and is polished with a bit of sandpaper on the inside. The hot stock is formed to have a bulge at one end (upset), dropped through, and the header holds it while you strike a few blows to form the nail's head. Hopefully, the nail comes out easily
Although I'm certainly open to suggestions of others?
My design calls for me to make the header out of 1.25" round, about 1/4" thick, then welded to a short mild steel handle. Stick welder. Shouldn't be much stress on the weld.
Literature says 8620 welds easier. True? 6011 or 7024 sticks work ok for this?
For the curious, the nail header is made by doming the end of a rod of the alloy steel with a grinder or on a lathe, then slicing off a 1/4" (approx) section, and drilling/drifting a square hole in the center. The hole is not straight through but has an "hourglass" sort of profile, to help extract the nail, and is polished with a bit of sandpaper on the inside. The hot stock is formed to have a bulge at one end (upset), dropped through, and the header holds it while you strike a few blows to form the nail's head. Hopefully, the nail comes out easily