David Wiseman Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Anyone have a link for tempering mining picks?Especially for drifting picks used in hard rock mining.Need this for a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au Seeker Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 This article doesn't mention mining picks but instead a screwdriver as an example, but the process is the same only you're deal with a bigger point.http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/heat1.htmHere's some more info on hardening and tempering of knife blades, I included this because of it mentioning that the tempering process should be done within 1 or 2 hours of the hardening process.http://www.smt.sandvik.com/en/products/strip-steel/strip-products/knife-steel/hardening-guide/purpose-of-hardening-and-tempering/Some more good info.http://www.tpub.com/steelworker1/11.htmhttp://www.anvilfire.com/article.php?bodyName=/FAQs/temper_colors_hardness.htm The process of tempering is the same no matter what tool you're tempering, but question I guess is what degree of tempering you need for a mining pick? I would guess that the harder the metal is the better as long as it not so hard that it shatters/breaks the point when using the mining pick, so I would go toward a light tempering so as to not decrease the hardness to much, usually hard brittle metal breaks when it is used in prying. Anyway I hope some info of this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wiseman Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Thanks man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Dave, Here is a video that might help.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB1qg_OVYmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wiseman Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Thanks Wes,had some old time mining friends that tempered for me but they passed on to the diggings up above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Might try Estwing Geo pick .Thay have some good picks there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wiseman Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 That's exactly what my friend wants to temper as he wears out those forty dollar ones giving mining tours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garimpo Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I have several blacksmiths here and I've watched them several times temper my picks. They put it in the hot coals they already have to work with all day and leave it there until the pick part is red hot and then they put it in a bucket of oil. Other times they just lay it on the ground and let it cool on it's own. Guess they know what their doing since that's how they sharpen my pick about every two or three years. Either process is tough on wood handles so if you like yours take it out of the pick first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homefire Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Heat to Cherry Red. Quench in oil.Clean metal so white again.Heat to just turning Blue/Yellow Banding starts and Quench again.Hardened more then a few chisels that way. Edited July 18, 2014 by homefire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonoran Dave Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Thats the way I was taught too Homie. Has worked well enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homefire Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 You can make a serviceable Knife out of a Rail Road Spike hardening them that way after shaping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver hillbille Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 THe good one I had busted bangin on rocks about 2" back from the point. Never did seee where it went. For those lucky enough to keep their pick in one piece, I don't see why the wear edges/point couldn't be hard-welded like they do to dozer blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wet/dry mixer Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 when a magnet stops sticking to the heated pick its at its optimum temperature for quenching. to temper a pick put it an oven at 500 degrees for 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. or dip it in oil and burn the oil off and drop it back in the oil. or polish it like homefire suggested above.bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azdave35 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 if its cheap mild steel or cast iron it probably wont take a heat treat...you might have to weld some hardface on it and grind it down where you want it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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