Heat treating press dies

[MKustom]

I am in the process of building a hydrolic press and will soon be ready for some dies. I lucked into a large fork lift fork. I was wondering if there where any guesses as to what steel would be in the fork?? I am also wondering what hardness would be the best for the dies? Thanks ahead of time for all your advice.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The dies for a press need to be tough, not hard.Forks will make great dies. I use mild steel, 4140, 5160, whatever. I do not HT them. Cold mild steel is many times harder than any red hot steel.
Stacy

 

[MKustom]

Great! I was also thinking of using the fork steel for an anvil top, any thoughts on heat treating for this purpose?

 

[Keith_H]

I've heard that it was 4140, or something similar.