jermfab
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2013
- Location
- atlanta, ga
Hello all,
So. I had some fall-off of 4140 pre-hardened at work. I decided to make the pieces into a couple of lathe chuck keys. I made the shank longer and knurled it. The factory chuck key doesn’t clear the lathe headstock, plus, with only an 8” chuck it seems I’m forever changing the jaws from inside to outside. Hoping the knurling will help spin the screws and make flipping the jaws a little faster.
Anyhow, as I’m spending a bit of time on these keys I’m wondering what are/if there are any advantages to heat treating these chuck keys? I have access to a glass blowing kiln, as well as propane and oxy-fuel torches, I don’t have “real” heat treating facilities.
What are the chances of me improving the current hardness?
Is there any way to do so without a proper oven?
Should I instead consider tempering from the current hardness?
This is a new realm for me, I’ve watched the YouTube’s and read what I can find open source. Hoping someone here has some practical knowledge of either heat treating 4140 with a torch, or tell me it’s a stupid idea... I’m receptive to either.
Jeremy
So. I had some fall-off of 4140 pre-hardened at work. I decided to make the pieces into a couple of lathe chuck keys. I made the shank longer and knurled it. The factory chuck key doesn’t clear the lathe headstock, plus, with only an 8” chuck it seems I’m forever changing the jaws from inside to outside. Hoping the knurling will help spin the screws and make flipping the jaws a little faster.
Anyhow, as I’m spending a bit of time on these keys I’m wondering what are/if there are any advantages to heat treating these chuck keys? I have access to a glass blowing kiln, as well as propane and oxy-fuel torches, I don’t have “real” heat treating facilities.
What are the chances of me improving the current hardness?
Is there any way to do so without a proper oven?
Should I instead consider tempering from the current hardness?
This is a new realm for me, I’ve watched the YouTube’s and read what I can find open source. Hoping someone here has some practical knowledge of either heat treating 4140 with a torch, or tell me it’s a stupid idea... I’m receptive to either.
Jeremy