Soft steel rod?

Re: Soft steel rod?  *LINK*

John Truxell-Svenson (jvs)

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http://www.mcmaster.com/param/asp/psearch.asp?FAM=steel&session=desc=Metals;steel

Re: Soft steel rod?

Scott Post

>The stuff they have at the home centers is soft, low carbon steel. You can't harden it the way you would O1 or A2 although there are surface treatments you can do. If you need something that can be hardened you can get O1 drill rod from places like MSC (www.mscdirect.com) or McMaster Carr.

Re: Soft steel rod?

mike recchione

>Jeremy,

For a dead center, the rod from HD should be fine - it doesn't need to be hard, and not even that straight (since you're only using a very short length).

For the drive center, I had another thought: If you follow the notion that we were talking about, i.e. making it out of a spade bit, then maybe it would make sense to return to the notion of just chucking the modified spade bit into your chuck instead of trying to taper it. When you first asked the question, you were thinking of buying a commercial center, which would have been tapered. But if you have to make the thing anyway, maybe it isn't worth the hassle to taper it.

- Mike

Re: Soft steel rod?  *LINK*

Frank Mutchler, in Colorado Springs, CO

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Fatigue Proof Soft Steel Rod

Re: Soft steel rod?

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Fascinating, but the steelmonger's ad copy doesn't provide much explanation of metalurgy or properties of this stuff, other than it appears to be "Homer with a big hammer"-proof. Do you know anything else about its applications?

I must say I`m disappointed...

Bob Hackett

>Here I thought I was finally gonna be able to work some steel and not be worn out when I got done.

MB

Re: Soft steel rod? *LINK*

Frank Mutchler

>No, I don't. For use in fabricating the parts mentioned in the ad copy, I've always used oil hardening stock. The oil/water flat/round stock from Brownells is furnished in an easilly worked state. I've not used this particular stock but a few uses that come to mind might be an insert for a toe or heel strike button, plane hammer, etc.

For anyone interested, the link references an excellent little book that removes all the mystery that seems to surround hardening/tempering as it applies to the hobbyist/small workshop.

Jeremy, I think any 3/8" rod with low carbon content (soft steel .17% etc.) will work for your tail stock center. If desired, it can be given a case hardened exterior after you have machined it to whatever profile you want. See: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7626&title=KASENIT for a source. I've used it a lot and it's excellent.


Hardening, Tempering, & Heat Treatment

Re: Soft steel rod?

Fred Krow

>An additional tip for heat treating is to use a temperature indication paint, ref the following from Brownell's:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13124&title=TEMPILAQ%7e

Years ago these were available as crayon sticks, mark the steel with appropriate stick temp color and when it changes,,,,quench.

This works much better than the "straw yellow" mystical color for steel transformation temperature prior to quenching.

Regards,

FK

The crayons are still available

Bob Hackett

>You can find them at welding supply stores.Just ask for Tempil sticks.Welders use them to monitor preheat temps.

Mainely,Bob