newbie needs some brains to pick

[cleanskin87]

Hey all, new on the forum and metalworking in general. I'm wanting to start a project but am unsure on the materials needed, mainly a crossbow trigger. Really need some advice on what steel I should use and what sort of hardening process would be best, needs to a be a strong finished product but fairly workable as the tools used will be mainly power and hand (don't have access to a vertical mill or anything fancy). Any info would be greatly appreciated, TIA.

[TomG]

Welcome!

It sounds like O1 plate would be what you are looking for. It can be had in most any thickness and is easily hardened by heating it to a dull red, quenching in oil and then tempering to the required hardness. For a simple trigger, the shape could be laid out and sawed to size using hack saw and jeweler saw and finish to the proper profile by hand filing.

When I taught industrial arts in the 70's, I had the students build a project at the beginning of the year using hand tools and then build it again later on using machines. That generated a healthy dose of appreciation for the machines.

Tom

[dallen]

Chinese used bronze and casted the trigger parts,

how complicated are you planning on making the trigger,

you can go a lot of metal removal with just a hacksaw and some good files don't get the cheap crap ones from china

[ieezitin]

The steel and process has been answered. 

My two cents on this is to make it out of wood first, get a feel for using files and also the design and finial product can be achieved, eyeballing a made product will save you much time in doing the real thing.

Anthony..