Scott---
In practical terms, is there a difference between truck spring steel and tool
steel? Serious question!
I smithed a few chisels out of heavy leaf springs twenty years back---and a
dumb adze that I mistakenly ground in-cannel---and all these tools are behaving
just as if they were made by T H Witherby himself, over this whole time. Tough
edges that stay sharp, nice color deep in the steel...Very satisfying, rolling
your own framing chisels, and well worth having a dead arm for a day or two...
I never had to make a froe, since the PNW coast is littered with them (well,
not *now*, of course, but like Stanley #1s, they really *were* everywhere when
nobody wanted them) but as you say, if you want to forge your OWN froe, leaf
springs should make a *great* one, if they're thick enough. Most of the hard
work's already done, ain't it?
I sold a froe or two on the list a good while back, but have not seen ANY
going cheap since the turn of the century. But I swear, when I took the smithing
class at Pratt, in Seattle, there were several froes in the metal bin, waiting
to be made into pot hangers and pukey metal ducks.
I will keep an eye out for froes and if lucky, the list will be the first to
hear about it. I believe Jack Birky has a froe or two, if he's selling stuff
lately.
best to all galoots, everywhere, gam in OlyWA/USA
How horrible it is to have so many people killed!---And what a blessing one
cares for none of them!
Jane Austen
On Friday, April 9, 2021, 09:55:56 AM PDT, scottg wrote:
I once saw a froe made from a vehicular leaf spring.
OTS, old truck spring, would make a dandy froe.
The bane of knife and other toolmakers, it would do great for a real
froe.
It would take a heavy truck spring. Ordinary pickup springs are way too
thin. But the big ones are 1/2" + thick.
The stuff is tenacious and wants to return to its shape on quenching,
even after heavy forging.
And it would probably take a power hammer to form a proper eye and
evenly taper from spine to edge in a true wedge.
But forged, hardened and tempered to spring temper it would make a
great froe!
I haven't seen it done myself. But it could be.
I just don't see anyone volunteering for the job hahahah
yours scott
who has worked OTS a time or two
--
*******************************
Scott Grandstaff
Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca 96039
scottg@s...
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
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