Tools steel score!

Fred Zweig - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 1:59pm

Jewelry | Repousse & Chasing Chasing and Repousse Tools

I have just found a hoard of O1 tool steel in different diameters and in 6" lengths. I have already bought over 40lbs of it and have started making chasing tools. I am cutting the lenghts in half and then taper forging the ends to make my stock. These will eventually be made into specialty chasing tools for my work.

Fred

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O-1

silvermon - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 7:29pm

Fred, sounds like there's more of this bounty to be had. Consider giving up the source and sharing it with the rest of us.

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Source

Fred Zweig - Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 7:00am

Gladly.... Desert Metal Recycling here in Tucson, AZ. Fred Zweig
Metalsmith

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More tool stock

Fred Zweig - Friday, October 2, 2009 - 10:04pm

Seems that I cannot stop myself from buying more of the tool stock. Another 7lbs during lunch. There is still so much more left. I cannot resist paying only $1.50 a lb.

Fred Zweig
Metalsmith

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Wow, Fred, you seem to find

don johnson - Friday, October 2, 2009 - 11:13pm

Wow, Fred, you seem to find the good deals. I was in Tucson in Febuary and saw the signs for the shows but thought they were for rock hounds. I did not know there was metal there also. My home base was in Phoenix at the time. I found hauling my art supplys in the basement of my RV challenging. I had to set up and take down each day, try not to offend the neighbors with hammering, and a portable torch is really lame.

My home is in Washington, so the shop is more realistic. I have also learned that making the tools is an artform in itself.

Thanks for your input,

Don

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Hi, I am new here. After

yloh - Monday, November 16, 2009 - 10:40pm

Hi, I am new here.
After reading some of the pioneers' post. There are lots of good experiences.
Here I want to share some of my experience.
1, for making punches, go to flea market my some used Allen wrenches, they are good steel, shape them on a grinder/sander as long as do not over heat them. Especially the little bends use it to make off center punches. The hexagon body is better to control when you hold it.
2, When grinding, grind the tip first, if grind the body first; you will push the heat toward the tip to get over heat fast.
3, for hardening, not everyone has a temperature control kiln, my experience is to heat the steel to orange, complete orange, make sure it is orange thought-out, with no black shadow. Then quench. To anneal, use a soft flame to heat the body, watch the color that moves toward tip to get a desire color, then through it to cool oil/water.
O1 stands for oil hardening; W1 stands for water hardening, A1 stands for air hardening.
I wish these can help somebody.
Best regards.
yloh
I wanted to post this at this group, I do not know how. So I psoted it as a reply, It is very apreciate if some one tells me how.

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Making Tools

wildwire - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 11:05am

I am a newbie. This site is great as I live in the sticks and it is difficult to find local resources. I have been doing embossing on thin copper and want to go to the next level. I never realized how fluid cold formed metal really can be! I love working with it.
What gauge of copper do you use for most of the repousse projects? I will start with some bracelets & pendants before attempting larger pieces.
I am going to make some tools from the allen wrenches and broken tools (I made many of my embossing tools) What is a good(but inexpensive) polishing setup?
What is the best pitch and best $ place to buy?
Thanks for any and all help with my questions.

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Northwest Pitchworks in

marilyn - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 11:53am

Northwest Pitchworks in Seattle.

I am thinking about buying Chasing & Repoussé (Hardcover)
by Nancy Megan Corwin, Tim McCreight
(1) $35.00

I have one by Marcia Lewis which is good but I think it is out of print now.

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Welcome to the forum.

Fred Zweig - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 5:54pm

Welcome to the forum. Northwest Pitchworks is the best and cheapest. 3 lbs of Medium pitch will cost approx $36 including shipping. Tell Vincent hello for me.

I highly recommend the Corwin book.

I use 18 gauge for most of my work. 20 gauge would work for low relief work.

Fred

Fred Zweig
Metalsmith

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