Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

I've gotten some things from Southern Tool Steel, 2726 Kanasita Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37343. Phone 423-870-7888 Fax 423-870-7800.

Linda Holmes-Rubin

Are you looking for a particular type of steel??

"Wisdom and experience are built of bricks made from the mud of failure." (Mike Blue)

MLMartin
not looking for a sead kind of steel, just wanted a choice of steels for chissels, drifts, hammmers, and other tools i make my self. everything i have made so far is just out of old spring steel, axels, jackhammer bits, plow blades, ext. all good steels but its normaly a hit or miss becouse i never know the exsact kind of steel im using

about 95% of all coilspring is 5160. Consistant enough for me.

MLMartin
i dident know that most coilspring what that, thanks for the tip

I have a collection of old tool bodies from the woodworking industry that I sell for next to nothing and all of them are made from 4150.

I am out in the Carrollton area. I also have access to 4150 in whatever size you need, as we manufacture tool bodies as well.

robtheblacksmith@yahoo.com

ROB How about posting the general heat treating information for 4150 here so we can see how it fits with our abilities.

This is a sheet I found from Leeds Steel Co. relating to tempering and annealing 4150.
4150 is a medium carbon alloy steel. This grade is delivered fully annealed for easy machining. 4150 Annealed is an excellent general purpose grade. It providing all around toughness, good mechanical properties. 4150 can be heat treated to high levels of hardness when desired. Compared to 4140 Alloy Steel, 4150 will harden to a higher range of hardness with deeper hardness penetration.

TYPICAL CHEMISTRY: C 0.48/0.53 Mn 0.75/1.00 Mo 0.15/0.25 Cr 0.80/1.10

MACHINABILITY: This material has a machinability rating of 110 as compared to a 1% annealed Carbon Steel rated at 100.

THERMAL CYCLING: In order to avoid decarburization, this grade should be annealed or hardened in a controlled neutral atmosphere, vacuum, or neutral salt furnace.

1. Anneal: Heat to 1450 to 1550° F. Soak one hour per inch of thickness at heat. Cool 20° F per hour to 1200° F. Air cool to room temperature. Approximate hardness 200 HB Max.

2. Stress Relief of Annealed Material: Heat slowly to 1250° F. Soak for two hours per inch of thickness at heat. Slow cool (furnace cool if possible) to room temperature.

3. Dimensional Stability: When oil quenched from the proper hardening temperature, this grade can be expected to expand approximately .0015 in. per in. It should also be noted that distortion (bending, bowing and twisting) and part geometry can add to the variations in movement of a part being hardened.

4. Hardening:
a. Preheat: Heat to 1200 to 1300° F. Hold at this temperature until thoroughly soaked.
b. Harden: Heat to 1525 to 1550° F. Soak at heat one-half hour per inch of thickness.
c. Quench: Oil quench to 150 to 200° F. Temper immediately.
d. Temper: Double tempering is recommended. Soak at heat for 2 hours per inch of thickness for each temper. Air cool to room temperature between tempers.

Temper° F Brinell/HRC Tensile Strength psi* Yield Strength psi*
400 578/56 301,500 248,000
600 534/54 264,000 240,000
800 444/47 230,000 215,000
1000 401/43 197,000 181,000
1100 363/39 180,000 161,000
1200 331/37 158,000 140,000

* Values, for est. only.1 inch rd. specimens were tested after oil quenching from 1525° F.

5. Stress Relief Temper: A stress relief temper for hardened material is strongly recommended after significant grinding, or welding, or EDM. Select a temperature that is 25 or 50° F lower than the last tempering temperature used.