The Library of Work and Play: Working in Metals

by Charles Conrad Sleffel

Stock: 7 × ⁷⁄₈ × ⁷⁄₁₆ in.

To make a tool of this kind bevel off the end of the stock, place the other end in the fire, and heat about two inches to a red heat. Take it out and place about one inch of this on the round edge of the anvil. With the hand hammer reduce the thickness of this steel, driving on the edge nearest you (see [sketch marked A]). The hammering reduces the thickness of the edge, which will be the cutting edge when finished. The part opposite to where you are working will be reduced very little. A chisel is now used for cutting the cutting edge on the tool ([see B]). Place the tool on a piece of soft iron, place the chisel along the line and cut through to the soft iron below. This gives not only a clear cut but prevents the chisel from driving in if it should strike the hard anvil. The clearance is cut off along the other lines. ([C]) The cutting edge is now offset. To do this use a set hammer. Push the part made beyond the anvil ¹⁄₄ in. Place the set hammer in this shoulder, drive down until the offset is driven down about ¹⁄₈ in. (D).

The method of tempering this tool is a little different from the way you have tempered other tools, on account of the length of the cutting edge, which should be hardened its full length. Place the end just finished in the fire and heat to a red heat. Plunge the whole tool into water. Take it out and polish the cutting edge with emery stone. Now place in the fire a piece of any kind of iron; 1 in. square will do. Heat it red hot, then place it upon the anvil, and lay the part of your tool that has been hardened on the hot bar. It will draw enough heat from the hot bar to produce the temper colours. This is one way to give a piece of hardened steel the heat to temper it when the body of that piece does not contain heat enough to do so.

Boring tool

Boring tool: Boring tools are made for the purpose of enlarging holes in cylinders, or any hole which should be enlarged after it has been drilled. The work to be done must determine the size and length of the boring tool. This is not true of any other one of the lathe tools.

Stock: 7 × ⁷⁄₁₆ × ⁷⁄₈ in.

Bevel one end. Place the other end in the fire and heat about 3 ins. of it. Draw it out to a tapering octagonal shape, as shown in the sketch. The end is pushed over the anvil about ¹⁄₂ in. Drive it down at right angles. The clearance for the cutting edge is cut off with a hot chisel and made ready for hardening and tempering.