Does anyone draw out steel as a service?

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Josh Rider

Josh Rider

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I'm curious if anyone offers a service to draw out steel.
For example, I have large piece of steel that I can't draw out (no press, no power hammer).
Do any smiths offer that service?
I'm not necessarily looking for it to be done at this time, just was wondering if people do this.
Thanks for your time!
 
I've never heard of anyone offering that as a service. I don't think there is much demand and shipping would probably make it cost prohibitive.

There may be someone on here that would do it for you but I would recommend looking for a local blacksmith club. You could learn from them and they likely would have a hammer or press you could use or a member that would do it for you. My local club has four hammers and a press you can use if you get a little training.

Or you could just bite the bullet and hammer it out the old fashioned way, I've seen some pretty large stock hammered down by hand.

Good Luck

-Clint
 
Clint these pieces are huge! I'd pay the shipping and then some. I would like to meet some local blacksmiths though, that's a great idea.
 
Sorry to say but that's not to bad of a size. I use dons larger stuff that's over an 2" in Diamater. Now that's not saying I would by choice forge it by hand as I have a press. But if you treat it right you can fir it by hand. The trick is to slice off say a 1/2" cookie and weld a handle to the OD and draw it out. It makes working larger steel so much easier.
 
Yeah, I used to forge 2-5/8" DHIII W2 round stock into knives, by hand. As JT says the trick is to slice off a cookie, weld to a handle like a lollipop, and smash it on down. Get a straight peen hammer in 5-8 lb. weight. I found that was best for breaking down big stock. If you cant find a straight peen in that size, cut the edge off of a splitting maul and grind that into a straight peen shape. Works very well as long as the hammer head is heat treated fairly deep into the edge or all the way through.
 
I can't weld yet :(
I've been doing stock removal and just bought an anvil a few weeks ago. These pieces might as well be the Eiffel Tower lol.

Thanks for the help
 
Ray Kirk used to do that on occasion. He had a big rolling mill powered by a car engine, IIRC.
 
How small do you want it drawn out? 3/4"x1" is good for integrals, .125" x 2" is good for chefs, 1/4"x 1.5" or 1/4"x1" is good for all purpose.
If you are interested, perhaps I could draw some out for you on my press and hammer, in exchange for some W2 in trade. I'm running a little low.
It's a deal I've done before, worked out well.
Michael Pikula used to draw out steel as a service, but I think he burned out on it a while back. He's over at Bladesmith's Forum Boards.
 
Check with Don Hanson. He used to ship it to someone who drew it out (HHH?) and they shipped it to me. Don would know who does it.

If you still don't get an answer, post your inquiry in Services Wanted. There are several smiths who will likely do the task.
 
Thanks guys, DevinT said he'd do it.
Salem, I appreciate it, that's a great offer.
 
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