OldTools Archive

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273421 gary allan may 2021‑04‑09 Re: Froe made from vehicular leaf spring
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/
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Recent Bios FAQ