I'm making some dies out of 2" square 4140 for my treadle hammer. Intent is to use them to draw out Damascus billets. How much crown should I give them? What happens if I make them more (or less) crowned, in terms of how they will move the steel? Foot powered, 60? pound ram treadle hammer, if that makes a difference.
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How much crown for drawing dies?
- Thread starter Jason Fry
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Because its foot powered, you will want to maximize the force per square inch by using a smaller radius then you would a powered hammer. Anything from 1.5 to 3" would be fairly agressive on a powerhammer, but good on a treadle.
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Jason,
Do you have a picture of your treadle hammer floating around somewhere?(just curious... I can't help you anymore than Sam already has.)
Do you have a picture of your treadle hammer floating around somewhere?(just curious... I can't help you anymore than Sam already has.)
Yeah, Rick, I have pics on a thread in the hammer and tongs forum. Right now I have them at about a 7" diameter crown. Figure I can take them down further if I need to, but won't be able to put any back. Need to weld them to some plate, rig the hammer to accept them, then pound some stuff 
If the dies are easy to change, I would go a quite a bit more aggressive than you think you need. A treadle hammer is not awfully powerfull and the smaller surface area will be very helpful. Plus if they are actually too aggressive make another set, and there will usually be a use for the more aggressive ones down the road.
It reminds me when I started forging and would start hammering at a cherry red in fear I would damage the steel if it got too hot. I had a lot of blades that took enormous effort because I was afraid to be too aggressive with the heat. Once I learned how to properly forge, I stop forging now at the temps I was starting at, and it is so much easier and enjoyable.
It reminds me when I started forging and would start hammering at a cherry red in fear I would damage the steel if it got too hot. I had a lot of blades that took enormous effort because I was afraid to be too aggressive with the heat. Once I learned how to properly forge, I stop forging now at the temps I was starting at, and it is so much easier and enjoyable.
Right now, it's not set up at all for dies. It has 6" square by 1/2" thick plate on both the anvil and the hammer. There's about a 3/4" lip around the edge, as the plates are welded on to the square tubing that makes up the anvil and hammer. I figure I can use plate, then put some holes on that little lip and bolt or pin the dies in. Haven't got that far yet.