Cooling Iron/Steel: Durability, Hardness and Structure

[Adam]

I am considering getting into forging metal things at home as a hobby. Setting up a little smithy in the back. I thought I'd try making some blades and such.

What are the properties of iron/steel as it cools? At what rate should it be cooled for different hardness or durability? What materials are best for different effects? What differences are there in the structure of the iron/steel when cooled at different rates?

Thanks.

 

[Bystander]

"Machinery's Handbook" is pretty good, regardless of which edition. Snoop around for "reconditioning of antique/vintage tools" for other tips regarding the kind of thing you're talking about --- "temperature measurement by color" for tempering/heat treatment/annealing iron and steels.

 

[NateTG]

The questions you're asking are good and usefull, but the answers are complicated. The properties of steel and iron depend on the composition, previous heating and cooling, whether it's been cold worked and probably some other things that I don't know about.

 

[Gara]

i've always wanted to make my own sword. even if its a real crappy one, it'll be mine.

but I've no idea how to make a forge or go about it :(

plus i have no money...

anyone know a site of how to build your own forge out of bricks or something?

 

[314159]

forge

This page is about as cheap as a forge would concievably get.

http://64.176.180.203/washtubforge.htm

And also gives some introductions to metalworking.

 

[Sariaht]

Originally posted by Gara

love you're suit?!?

 

[Sariaht]

Ever thought of the possibility that merlins sword should have had a frequency easely emitted by a wistle? No?

 

[Gara]

"love you're suit?!?"

huh?

 

[NateTG]

Originally posted by Gara
i've always wanted to make my own sword. even if its a real crappy one, it'll be mine.

but I've no idea how to make a forge or go about it :(

plus i have no money...

anyone know a site of how to build your own forge out of bricks or something?

Go to the library and check out 'Back to the Basics' it has instructions for making a forge out of a brake drum.

 

[392hemi]

Gara wrote:
i've always wanted to make my own sword. even if its a real crappy one, it'll be mine.

but I've no idea how to make a forge or go about it :(

plus i have no money...

anyone know a site of how to build your own forge out of bricks or something?

Gara,

Go to this site and register on the blacksmith group. One of the members wrote a book on that:
http://metalshapers.org/discussion_group/discussion_groups.htm