michael mott Posted December 23, 2013 Share #1 Posted December 23, 2013 Today I needed a long small chisel To make what I needed I began with a piece of 5/32 drill rod and filed the end into a rectangular section. this was then polished up with some wet and dry sandpaper stuck to a strip of wood. After hardening the end only the bevel was ground ready for shapening. Finally a handle was fashioned from a piece of hard maple. Michael Bill Hime, druxey, dvm27 and 4 others 7 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Slog Posted December 23, 2013 Share #2 Posted December 23, 2013 Hi Michael, Very neat. Would you mind detailing the hardening process you employed. I vaguely know about heating up, quenching, heating again and air cooling or vice versa. Cheers Slog Quote _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HM Bark Endeavour (First Wood, On Hold) Borodino (1:200 Card, Current Build) Admiral Nakhimov (card 1/200) Mazur D-350 Artillery Tractor (1:25 Card) F-8 Crusader (1:48 Aircraft, Plastic) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) Hi Slog All I did was to heat the end about 1 inch at the tip to cherry red then quenched it in cold water. it was not quite hard tested it with a file, so heated it again to a very cherry red and again quenched it in the same water and then it was hard. I thought about tempering it but decided not to. if it is too brittle I will temper it that means heating it up again but watching very carefully the colour of the oxide forming on the polished surface I would take it to a dark straw colour then quench it again. I did use Drill Rod which comes in just about every size up to 1 inch in 36 inch lengths. it has a ground finish and is great for making tools. To soften the steel heat it to cherry red and let it cool slowly. To case harden mild steel heat to hot as possible without melting it and plunge it into some carbon powder, reheat and repeat a few times and you have a hard coating on the mild steel. Michael Edited December 23, 2013 by michael mott druxey, Bill Hime, Captain Slog and 3 others 6 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Slog Posted December 23, 2013 Share #4 Posted December 23, 2013 Hi Michael, Thanks for the fantastic information, most helpful Cheers Slog Quote _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ HM Bark Endeavour (First Wood, On Hold) Borodino (1:200 Card, Current Build) Admiral Nakhimov (card 1/200) Mazur D-350 Artillery Tractor (1:25 Card) F-8 Crusader (1:48 Aircraft, Plastic) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted December 23, 2013 Share #5 Posted December 23, 2013 Nice Job Michael, lets see some shots of it in use when you're ready! Another material used by woodworkers to make their own plane blades and chisels is Ground Flat Stock, sometimes called Gauge Plate. This is also easy to harden. It is available in a wide range of strip, flat and square sections. Full instructions for hardening are given on the packet. Cromwell tools sell it amongst others. https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/160202/ground-flat-stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doreltomin Posted December 23, 2013 Share #6 Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) Hi Michael, Thank you.. very interesting and helpful hint! Would you mind to tell also what you use to heat the material to cherry red? An open fire is enough for that or you need also some kind of blower to heat the fire up? Edited December 23, 2013 by Doreltomin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted December 23, 2013 Q A' Revenge, (what's your name?)Thanks for your kind remark and the information. I do have a sheet of 1/8th gauge plate I use it for certain tools like plane blades and also have used it for the expansion link on a live steam engine. Doreltomin to heat up to cherry red you do need a very hot flame, I use an Acetylene torch, I have a large bottle and the torch uses air as the mix, a jewelers supply has them. A smaller propane torch that has a good pointed flame will also work on material if the amount of metal is not too large. Michael Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jud Posted December 23, 2013 Share #8 Posted December 23, 2013 Michael: Like your Case Hardening method, probably give it a try using charcoal. Do you leave the oxidation on for all dips or do you re-polish each time? Drill rod is great stuff and I have found Key way stock is be handy for milling small items. Color is what has been used for a long time to determine temperature, the reason you found the forges in a dark corner in blacksmith shops. jud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted December 23, 2013 Share #9 Posted December 23, 2013 Propane or MAPP gas torch is handy for small stuff. You can heat bigger stuff with one if you can concentrate the heat with refractory fire bricks. Charcoal is good though, I've got mild steel up to melting temperature in a home made forge. Another name for Ground Flat Stock is "01" tool steel, but most old timers wouldn't call it that. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzleloader Posted December 23, 2013 Share #10 Posted December 23, 2013 I have made small chisels using allen wrenches. No tempering needed just sharpen and stick in a handle. Of course you can't get the length but you can make very small chisels. Mark Quote Current build Dom Fernando II E Gloria crossection Finished boats Portuguese Caravel Artenaval Yacht Mary Mamoli Mayflower M.S. H.M.S. Unicorn Corel Whaleboat Marine Model Co. Swift A.L. America (solid hull) Marine Model Co. Albatros Mantua U.S.S. Constitution Revell Spanish Galleon Revell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted December 24, 2013 Vic thanks, the chisel in in use here Janos, Yes I think that it is called silver steel in the UK as well. Mark, that is a great idea. There really is something special about making your own tools. Michael Bill Hime 1 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted December 24, 2013 Share #12 Posted December 24, 2013 I assume 'drill rod' is equal to 'silver steel'? Janos Similar. Here in the UK Silver Steel is specifically BS-1407 grade tool steel. In the USA "Drill Rod" can be one of several different steels each with a different chemical composition. Thanks for the link Michael. Agreed, making tools is special, and quite addictive once you start! WackoWolf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grsjax Posted January 4, 2014 Share #13 Posted January 4, 2014 There are three types of drill rod, A, O and W or air, water and oil hardening. Which type are you using? Quote My advice and comments are always worth what you paid for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hime Posted January 4, 2014 Share #14 Posted January 4, 2014 Michael, What a great tutorial! And your so right, there is nothing like making your own tools. It takes a true artisan to know his craft well enough to create tools to fit his needs. And that is a very fine looking chisel indeed. Warm Regards, Bill WackoWolf 1 Quote Passion is Patience...and I am a carpenter in any scale. Current build; Endurance - 1:70 scale, Occre Current build; H.M.S. Surprise - 1796, 1:48 A L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted January 4, 2014 Gr, I have to confess I have no idea, the store that i purchased this stuff from many years ago simply had a rack of various diameters of drill rod, I purchased a few sizes at the time. When I was an apprentice in the mid sixties we did use oil for some things because it slowed the cooling process rather than the shock of cold water. There have been a great many changes in metalworking since I learned the few things I know and my career path did not require that I keep up with them all the whole CNC process for instance is completely foreign to me. I deal with backlash on my machines and have to calculate amounts from simple dials. Bill thanks for the kind remarks, I do not have much disposable income so I have to make do with materials I have on hand. I scrounge a lot from odd sources as well. Michael WackoWolf 1 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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