Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => At the Forge => Topic started by: Ryan Jacob on July 01, 2018, 08:19:32 am
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So I have some old half round rasps that dont quite match up to the wood I use anymore. Are they any good as a forging material?
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The best way to tell is to do a snap test on the tang
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Snap test?
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Heat the tang to non magnetic and hold just a little longer, then quench in warm Canola oil. If it got hard when you hit it with a hammer it will snap off and not bend. If it bends heat it again and quench in water. If it won't snap now it won't harden
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Can I do this with coals and a blower?
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Yes you most certainly can
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I'll throw in a question - don't most of the Nicholson files make good forging material? Of course, I guess it depends on what you want to forge (f)!
Hawkdancer
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Well it depends on what you want to build, if say you are building a knife snap test it. Strikers need to be hard too. Lots of newer files are just case hardened so I test them all
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I'll throw in a question - don't most of the Nicholson files make good forging material? Of course, I guess it depends on what you want to forge (f)!
Hawkdancer
Old Nicholson USA files are great for making knives. Keep an eye out for garage sales and scrap yards. The outta country ones you see on most store shelves are hit or miss. There's alot of imports that are crappy steel that is just case hardened and won't make a knife.