Hot punching

[nickk]

One of my favourite smithing processes,quite simple,although I cheat a little by boring a pilot hole first,yet it still gives you an appropriate swelling (lol !).
Don’t forget to quench the drift frequently to avoid taking off the temper.

 

[roofman]

Loving the no gloves policy...my kind of man I hate wearing gloves doing anything.

 

[bourbon]

Loving the no gloves policy...my kind of man I hate wearing gloves doing anything.

Never seen our blacksmith use gloves at all, you get to know where the hot bits are! (I didn't, and have the burns!)

 

[frank horton]

not sure about the Tatto tho...
would love a forge...

 

[Mick Annick]

Are you spying on me Nick? I was looking at drifts last night as I want to have a go, though I don’t know what grade steel I’d need, and I’ve yet to have a go at hardening and tempering, so much to learn!

Can you show us the drift you used please? I’ve seen both chisel and pointed types.

 

[Shox Dr]

I like the little pile of box section cutoffs lifting the stand up abit

 

[Mick Annick]

I like the little pile of box section cutoffs lifting the stand up abit

I was too polite to mention it

 

[h-dom]

Are you spying on me Nick? I was looking at drifts last night as I want to have a go, though I don’t know what grade steel I’d need, and I’ve yet to have a go at hardening and tempering, so much to learn!

Can you show us the drift you used please? I’ve seen both chisel and pointed types.

Depends how many times you want to use the drift

I have mild steel drifts, they will be ok for a few drifts. In fact a lot of my round drifts are just mild steel with a taper at each end.

All the way up to h13 for punches and drifts that take a lot of abuse.

Anything medium carbon will be fine in reality.

I have made a lot of punches, chisels and drifts from old cold chisels.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've got an 8mm punch, that probably does 12x holes a day in 10-12mm steel. Fettle it up maybe once a month and rework it after 6mths or so.

It's air-hardening steel so never gets quenched. I don't wear gloves either so I'll quench the handle end occasionally if I'm doing a load at once and it gets too hot too hold.

 

[h-dom]

View attachment 405428

I've got an 8mm punch, that probably does 12x holes a day in 10-12mm steel. Fettle it up maybe once a month and rework it after 6mths or so.

It's air-hardening steel so never gets quenched. I don't wear gloves either so I'll quench the handle end occasionally if I'm doing a load at once and it gets too hot too hold.

Do you know what grade it is?

 

[hotponyshoes]

Do you know what grade it is?

H13.
I've made ones from A2 that work just as well.
Normal use for it would only be punching 8 holes over a 10min period then an hour or so before I did the same again.

I occasionally do 30+ holes in about 30mins with no issues though.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I don't use a pilot hole though.
I punch from one side until I'm beating a thin layer into the anvil and can feel the rebound/ring. Allow a second or two for the flattened side of the hole too cool to grey from the anvil surface then flip the stock over and punch the cold spot out.

 

[steve t]

@hotponyshoes is that a bought punch? I have loads of 8mm rivets so that would be a handy size.
Most of my punches are made from en 9.

 

[hotponyshoes]

@hotponyshoes is that a bought punch? I have loads of 8mm rivets so that would be a handy size.
Most of my punches are made from en 9.

No but I've blatantly copied the design from a bought one!!
If you search for "farriers stud punch" you'll find a few examples.
One like that is about £45

They come in 2 sizes, 5/16" or 3/8".
The sizes refer to the tap size you use in the hole so a 3/8" punch is about 8mm.
They are not normally supplied "finished" so there would be enough on a 3/8" one to take it exactly to 8mm if you wanted.

 

[Mick Annick]

Depends how many times you want to use the drift

I have mild steel drifts, they will be ok for a few drifts. In fact a lot of my round drifts are just mild steel with a taper at each end.

All the way up to h13 for punches and drifts that take a lot of abuse.

Anything medium carbon will be fine in reality.

I have made a lot of punches, chisels and drifts from old cold chisels.

Repurposed chisels are on my list

 

[Barking Mat]

I'm more wondering why there's a wheel on the anvil base ?

 

[nickk]

I'm more wondering why there's a wheel on the anvil base ?

That’s my patent foot vice don’t you know,connected to a motorcycle chain,shove your foot through the hole,press down,the chain grips the steel onto the anvil face.