Help with a metal

[Barquester]

I'm trying to make some wood-turning tools to save money as the durn things are expensive and I need quite a few.
I ground all the sleeves off a P/U shock absorber leaving the shaft protruding from the cylinder sleeve, ground it to a detail gouge and it works really well. The problem is I began making another one and decided to check hardness and a round file scratched the shaft. I wasn't expecting this, thinking the shaft would need to be very hard. But since it did, I thought I'd try to find out the type of steel I was dealing with and whether the steel could actually be hardened. I'm hoping some of the knowledgeable members here might know.

 

[Bo T]

I've read that the possibilities are vast. Draw out the metal, normalize, and quench in oil from a bright red. If it bends it probably won't harden very well but repeat and try a water quench. If it breaks, it has hardened, grind out your tools, harden and temper.

 

[Barquester]

I've read that the possibilities are vast. Draw out the metal, normalize, and quench in oil from a bright red. If it bends it probably won't harden very well but repeat and try a water quench. If it breaks, it has hardened, grind out your tools, harden and temper.

That's pretty much what I thought I'd try, I just thought I'd run it by more expert blacksmiths than myself. Thanks again.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Be aware that even if it hardens to some degree it may make poor turning tools. The edge holding ability and fine grain are why steels like 1095 and W2 are used for these type tools. You can purchase W1/W2 round stock rather cheaply and make good tools with a fairly simple HT. Turning tools are expensive because they are specialty tools and not sold in huge volume, as well as the fact that they need to be made exactly right to work well. Home made turning tools need all the help they can get. Starting with good steel. Research HT until you know how to harden and temper them right, too.

Additionally, the shock absorber shafts are probably made to be tough...not hard. They are plated to give friction and wear resistance. I would think they won't make good turning tools. You can certainly do as Bo T suggests, but if you start with a known steel of the type to make fine edged tool, you will be far ahead in saving time and money.

Good choices for steel would be W2, W1, 1095, 52100. Most of these are available in round and square stock. Check out Aldo's stock ( NJSB).