I make a lot of my hot-work texturing tools and the like out of old truck and car axles. They're generally something on the order of 4140 steel, it seems, and they work fine for most purposes. If I need something to last a thousand cycles or it needs to be capable of working cold steel, then I use S-7 and heat treat it as best I can in my forge. For hot chisels and such that absorb a LOT of heat, I usually use H-13.
5160 spring stock, like found in truck leaf springs and many car coil springs, makes a pretty satisfactory steel for many punches, texturing dies and the like.
Jake, I make a lot of my
Jake,
I make a lot of my hot-work texturing tools and the like out of old truck and car axles. They're generally something on the order of 4140 steel, it seems, and they work fine for most purposes. If I need something to last a thousand cycles or it needs to be capable of working cold steel, then I use S-7 and heat treat it as best I can in my forge. For hot chisels and such that absorb a LOT of heat, I usually use H-13.
5160 spring stock, like found in truck leaf springs and many car coil springs, makes a pretty satisfactory steel for many punches, texturing dies and the like.