It is possible for you to learn to make all of the tools you may need to use, including hammers. And not only will you be able to make blacksmiths' tools, but such as are used by carpenters, bricklayers, stone-masons, machinists, etc. You must not expect to be able to do this work at first, but in a little while you will be able to replace your first working tools with those of your own make. From time to time, as the tools break or wear out, you can repair them or replace them with new ones. This gives excellent practice in forging and handling steel, and prepares you for more and more advanced work, an experience necessary for doing any work well.
Steel: There are many different grades of steel, depending upon the percentage of carbon contained in each. Steel low in carbon can be easily welded but cannot be tempered. Carbon steel is very difficult to weld and it can be done only by the use of borax or some other flux. High carbon steel or so-called tool steel, can be tempered. It is used for making cold chisels, files, drills, cutting tools, etc. Crucible steel: All tools are made from crucible cast steel. The cast steel is made by placing in a graphite crucible a certain amount of wrought iron and soft steel, and carbon is added in the form of manganese. These are all melted in furnaces. When melted they are poured into ingots and drawn or shaped to sizes for the market under different kinds of power hammers. These various size bars are used for the making of all kinds of tools. The tools we are going to make are (1) centre-punch, (2) cold chisel, (3) cape chisel, and (4) lathe tools. There are five lathe tools; (1) round nose, (2) diamond point, (3) side tool, (4) cutting off or parting tool, (5) inside or boring tool.
Centre-punch
Centre-punch: You will find the centre-punch a most useful tool to have on hand. It is used for marking centres before drilling holes, starting points in work, etc. A small one is made out of a piece of 3⁄8-in. hexagonal tool steel, 3 ins. long. Put one end into the fire and taper it 3⁄8 in. long to 1⁄4 in. in diameter, as shown in the sketch. Make this end flat. Put the other end into the fire and draw it into a sharp tapered round point to about 1⁄16 in. on the end. This extreme point is ground to a very sharp point. The angles of the extreme should be about 45°. This is hardened and tempered a blue colour. Then it is ready for use.
Cold Chisel
Cold chisel: Cold chisels are usually made out of 5⁄8-in. hexagonal tool steel, 6 in. long. The form and dimensions are given here.
Heat one end of the bar and place it upon the anvil. Draw it out for the short end. This is the part upon which the hammering is done when the tool is finished. The surplus stock is cut off with a hot chisel and the short end is flattened. When cutting tool steel of any kind the chisel should be very sharp and the steel red hot. Put the other end of the bar into the fire, beginning back about 21⁄2 ins. from the end. Flatten it down to a chisel shape, as shown in the drawing. Cut the surplus stock off, harden and temper as explained before for the cold chisel.
