Saturday, December 18, 2004

I spent a few hours on the forge today.  I took half of a block of tool steel I cut a few weeks/months ago and worked it into a punch.  The punch is sized for the nails for the viking chest.  In blacksmithing, holes are usually punched not drilled.  I already had a round punch but it would have been too big.  Also, I made my previous punches out of railroad spikes.  They work okay but tend to deform too easily.  This metal is S7(type of steel alloy) which should hold up much better to the heat.  So, I took the block of metal and stretched it into the punch.  There should be enough metal left over to do another punch or possible a small chisel.  The punch is currently annealing in the wood ash.  Had to stop as I am heading out for a party that is supposed to last well into tomorrow.

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