Tempering spring steel, blacksmithing, bushcraft, forge.

How to put the spring back into spring steel after forging.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• spring steel
• temper
• tempering
• forge
• blacksmith
• blacksmithing
• bushcraft
• forging.

[MetalGuru1964]

I am making my own springs for box locks,using hair pins,which i cut to approximate size with a 'Junior' hacksaw. I have managed to bend the small curve required,around a 2.75mm diameter pin,without needing to apply heat,but have had problems with the other curve required(approx.19mm dia. I've tried cold bending it round a 20mm dia. bar with a shallow groove turned in it,un-successfully.I tried heating it to bright red then clamping it onto the bar with Mole-Grips,but it cools in less tha

[howshawthebrave]

@MetalGuru1964 I would look on a gunsmiths forum if I were you. It's all the same principles but on a smaller scale with specialised tools & techniques. You would need a smaller tool that doesn't form a heat sink like the moles are doing.

[jacobkozakiewicz18]

and do u do this before forging into your desired tool right?

[howshawthebrave]

@jacobkozakiewicz18 No. If it were a knife you would get it finished, harden it & then finally temper it but as I said in the video, a knife is tempered in a very specific way, trying to keep the blade flexible whilst the edge keeps it's hardness.

[jacobkozakiewicz18]

what type of oil do u use? i'm just getting into forging so i dnt know much

[howshawthebrave]

@jacobkozakiewicz18 Old car engine oul. It doesn't matter too much it's just that it is a source of carbon.

[quintin636]

thanks!! i've seen a lot of video's of tempering and hardening!!! A LOT!!! and non of the video's explained this good. NON!!! now I understand it... THANKS!!!

[1stngl]

@howshawthebrave WOuld be very nice if you would do the vid about selective tempering for a knife ...seen a lot but would be very interesting to find out your approach in the same simple, easy to understand manner. Thanks!

[jeremiahsineiii]

@jeremiahsineiii (I guess I should say "Aren't many styles of long combat blades..."

[jeremiahsineiii]

@howshawthebrave Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't many styles of long combat blades only tempered on the first 4-8 inches (from the pointed end) where the cutting was meant to take place, leaving the lower section softer for parries?

[bellsmith88]

so how do you make a trap spring? Could you show us?

[howshawthebrave]

@StGeorgeTemplar92 It should be fine. It won't bend or snap & if you can temper it evenly it will hold an edge.