09-26-2012, 09:30 PM
Mike,
If you are going to the trouble of making a tool, go the extra mile and harden it. It'll hold up better for its intended use and it won't get all beat up from getting knocked around. You can either make it out of O1 to begin with and then harden and temper it with a torch, or you can save some money and make it out of mild steel and case harden it afterward. Either way you'll end up with a much nicer tool.
Tom
If you are going to the trouble of making a tool, go the extra mile and harden it. It'll hold up better for its intended use and it won't get all beat up from getting knocked around. You can either make it out of O1 to begin with and then harden and temper it with a torch, or you can save some money and make it out of mild steel and case harden it afterward. Either way you'll end up with a much nicer tool.
Tom
![[Image: TomsTechLogo-Profile.png]](http://tomstechniques.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TomsTechLogo-Profile.png)