Quick hardening question

[tmuir]

I'm making a little jig to allow me to mark out a part for drilling and boring.
I will be using a bit of 1/8 inch silver steel to lightly centre punch the mark onto the brass part.

After I have sharpened and hardened the tip of the silver steel what colour should I temper it back to?

Thanks

 

[Tin Falcon]

Stick it in the oven @230c

http://www.anvilfire.com/index.php?bodyName=/FAQs/temper_colors.htm&titleName=Temper%20Colors%20:%20anvilfire.com
Another trick is to quench in motor oil and leave it
Tin

 

[tmuir]

Thanks for that.
I will aim for straw coloured.
Oven is a bit crook and its debatable if it could reach 230C now.
Also I'm just wanting a quick and dirty job on this one as it won't see heaps of use.
No more than 3 taps tonight and maybe another 6 over the next year or so.

 

[xlchainsaw]

to harden heat it light cherry as seen in a dark spot and dip in water(with ice cubes) this is for hardening. to anneal is to do as tin said. i anneal my lathe tool steel ...grind to shape ...and re temper... if you use a good firebrick under the steel to be annealed it will cool nice and slow. if you heat the steel on it. oil is ok but it stinks!

 

[tmuir]

Thanks all.
It worked a treat for what I wanted to do with it.

Here is the little jig which guaranteed all my centre marks were equal distance from the centre.

 

[Rolland]

What is "silver steel", I don't believe I have heard that term before? ???

 

[cobra428]

Silver Steel in the US is Tool Steel
Tony

 

[Tin Falcon]

Yea we call it drill rod in the US typically O- 1 or w-1 tool steel.
Tin

 

[Twmaster]

Don't forget the A-1 designation for air hardening too! ;-)

(Sorry, could not help myself!) :big:

 

[doc1955]

Don't forget the A-1 designation for air hardening too! ;-)

(Sorry, could not help myself!) :big:

Or how about D1 oil or air. :big:

 

[Rolland]

Ok thanks, I am a little smarter. ;D