Tool Making

Today was making chasing tools day. The tools are made from 3mm Silver Steel rod. First the rod is cut to suit the hand, which in this case is 90mm. Then the rod was filed to the desired shape. The steel is then heated to a bright red then cooled in oil. Tech note if ordering steel for tool making get 01 (zero one) this steel can be cooled in Oil. After cleaning up the steel is then tempered by heating the steel with small hot flame (this was done by using a chef's torch). Starting at the top, the steel is heated until the steel turns blue but in front of the blue is a straw colour. The flame is then moved down the rod moving the straw colour to the chasing end. When the end is the straw colour the tool is again cooled in the oil. The chasing is now harden, to test if the tool has harden correctly the top should be too hard to file. If the tool can be filed the tempering process is repeated.