Tool Steels: A Brief History — Part 3 High Speed Steel
The investigations by Taylor and White, which culminated in the development of ‘high speed steel’, required an exceptionally large amount of money to be spent and infinite patience to be exercised. In 1906, Taylor presented his monumental paper, “On the Art of Cutting Metals,” before the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as his presidential address. It was the result of twenty-six years of experimentation during which time more than 800,000 pounds of steel and iron were cut up into chips with experimental tools.
Tool Steels: A Brief History — Part 4 High Speed Steel Types
HSS is sold under a myriad of trade names in rods, bars, flats and various tool shapes. For this reason, it is an all-too-often occurrence to come across a piece of branded HSS and have no idea what type or grade of HSS it is or perhaps even be unsure if it is or is not HSS.
Tool Steels: A Brief History — Part 5 Some Important Carbon Tool Steels - Water, Oil and Air Hardening Steels
W1 plain carbon tool steels are made in four grades of quality: Special, Extra, Standard and Commercial. Special (Grade 1) and Extra (Grade 2) conform to rigid macroscopic, microscopic or hardenability specifications, special being the highest quality. They are suitable for tools and dies requiring steels of uniform high quality. Standard (Grade 3) and Commercial grades are not always made in electric furnaces and meet less rigid processing requirements. They are suitable for many general-purpose applications or for short-run jobs. The standard carbon range is usually 0.95 to 1.1%.
Cooper's Tools
During a visit to the Hunter Valley early in 2020 I made a return visit to Audrey Wilkinson Winery. Having visited some years ago I was aware that they had previously commenced the restoration of old wine making facilities on the site of the original viney
Directions for Using Disston Conqueror Swage
1. File the teeth of solid tooth saws to sharp edge to fit opening in Tooth Gauge. A gauge is packed in box with each swage.
Heat Treatment of Steel -- What is so special about Berg “shark or fish brand” chisels?
Recently a member of the TTTG Committee asked why are older E A Berg chisels so superior, especially holding their cutting edge.
As one would expect many articles are available on E A Berg and other Swedish tool brands.
JD's 113 - Nev's Sheds
Nev, a long time member of TTTG, lives in the New England district of New South Wales, an area dotted with sheds, however, very few of these sheds are as interesting as Nev's sheds.
A visit to Nev's was long overdue.
JD's 114 - An ECSCO Saw Set
While demonstrating woodturning recently at a local event I was approached by a young bystander in his early sixties enquiring if I would like a couple of old saws and a saw set plus some other bits and pieces. After deliberating for a couple of seconds I instinctively said 'yes'.
JD's 115 - Hammalot Revisited
It was an 'eye opening' experience inspired by a guest appearance of Brian Pickett at a meeting of the Kiama Woodcraft Group. (I have been gently attempting to influence our group to appreciate the merit of traditional tools).
JD's 116 - It pays to talk to your hairdresser
It all started around six months ago.
Have I got news for you, was the
greeting from our hairdresser and long
time friend as we met while walking along
the beach front. I was talking to one of
my customers the other day and her
father is settling up his fathers estate in
England before migrating to Australia
and he doesnt know what to do with his
grandfathers tools. Of course, there was
the obvious answer, and now after the
patient wait, the tools are now here; all
the way from a Manor House in Clitheroe,