Tool Talk
Blacksmith and Metal Working Forum => Blacksmith and Metalworking Forum => Topic started by: dowdstools on June 28, 2013, 10:42:41 AM
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I recently acquired a large group of old tools. In my initial "go through" I ran across these two neat pieces - a split nut screwdriver that fits in a brace, and a small pocket screwdriver. Both tools are made from old, worn out files. You can still see some of the file teeth on them.
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Cool tools, wonder if they were re-tempered to shape them?
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Some of the best cutting tools I have were made from old Files...
Old hollow grind Knife, scraper/deburrer...
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Oldtools Files along with all tools steels when reheated lose their hardness long before reaching forging temperature of 1470 -2000 degrees. Both those tools have been forged (hammered) to the shape the maker wanted. They then would have been re hardened and tempered (two steps) to give them a suitably hard and tough working end.
Graeme
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Thank you, that's what I figured the 2 needed to be hammered & reshape,
as they are just drivers, maybe still soft & not heated & tempered.
My knife & scrapers were ground to reshape, kept the heat low by dunking in water during the hollow grind process, so the edge can cut steel..
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Another tool made from a old file is a shrinking slapper, works like a autobody hammer.
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What's the side view look like? How is a shrinking slapper used? like a spoon?
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Well spoons tend to be heavier, they can be used to hit the metal or back it up like a dolly. This slapper is "S" shaped the serrations are left on as to grab the little bumps better, they can be ground smooth. This is a finishing tool not what you use to block / rough out accident damage. The other slapper are made from misc hot rolled stock, handle angles are different, there are times to properly smooth a part you have to hit from a specific angle toe shrink the metal into it's self. Stretching thins the metal and shrinking thickens.
2nd pic is of 3 commercial spoons (Fairmont porter-ferguson) and a shop made. I tend to put longer handles cause of my short arms or just to lazy to move over....
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Thank you for the reply... Nice set of tools...
looks like you annealed your slapper to shape it, did you harden & temper it? don't want it too brittle like a file, but hard & tough... How?
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The old coal forge is what I used, heat till red, bend, usually one end at a time allow to cool slowly, that seems to do the trick. I don't hammer anymore do to bad shoulders. We don't need hard cause we a working sheet metal, and it is a finishing tool not a roughing tool.