WHAT TOOL STEEL IS DOING TOWARDS WINNING THE WAR.

It hardly seems fitting that we should close these pages without giving our readers some little idea of just what the tool steel industry is doing for the successful conclusion of the great cause nearest our hearts.

One of the first statements which we could make would be that every metal worker in the world absolutely requires some form of tool steel or special alloy steel in the manufacture of his product. Of course, a very great many manufacturers other than the actual metal workers also need this same supply of tool steel in order that their production might not immediately cease. Volumes could be written on the vital importance of tools to industry in general, from the drills which drill out the hole in a hypodermic needle, to a twelve-ton drop-forge steam hammer. But for the present we may confine ourselves to simply the briefest mention of the vast number of iron and steel products actually and vitally engaged in the prosecution of the war.

We are told that we need ships, yet the ship industry could not proceed a day if its supply of necessary tools was cut off. The overwhelming increase in the manufacturing operations of the world which has taken place since the opening of the European War can better be imagined than explained, it being only necessary for us to point out here that the one absolute necessity which is common to all and required by all branches of such vast manufacture is the proper supply of necessary tools.

It has been the personal duty of the writer to make various visits to different Government shops and Arsenals as well as to the plants and shops of torpedo, shell and munition manufacturers and the vital part which the tools of production are playing in the great undertaking has been forcefully impressed upon his attention.

The metals which are destined to play an active part in actual warfare are naturally required to meet the most severe conditions imaginable. Thus we find the high manganese armor plate and the high chrome-manganese armor piercing projectile. We find the new specifications for steel forging, for hulls and engines now have rigid chrome-vanadium and special nickle requirements, all of which means that the tools that do the machining, planing, shaping, cutting, drilling, boring, reaming, stamping and many other operations must be made of a tougher and harder material than ever before.

We know that for every man who may fight on the battle field, at least two men must labor in our shops and factories over mechanical operations.

Those of us who have been in immediate touch with some of the vital requirements of the War and Navy Departments in these strenuous days realize the shocking absence of the complete preparedness, which we must rapidly accomplish if we are to come anywhere near supplying our own soldiers on the fighting front with the fighting machinery and supplies of which they are in such urgent need. We realize that after all these months of increased industrial preparedness, we are, therefore, still unprepared in the full meaning of the word. The very foundation of our structure shows a startling amount of unpreparedness. We like to gaze upon the exterior towers and battlements of a castle of preparedness, and these are wonderful and encouraging to look upon but down below all these are certain neglected and unfinished pillars in the unseen cellar of that foundation, which threaten the stability of the entire mass. It is, therefore, some of these fundamental details which have been neglected as we have beheld the vision of the super-structure above. Pershing needs, 1,500,000 boys in khaki and over the shoulder of each is his protection against the Hun. Everyone of these rifles is a splendid monument of the accomplishment of tool steel and special alloy steel.

Every day of our present existence it happens that over a million shells scream over the miles of battle line in France. This curtain of high explosive and shrapnel is another direct expression of the wonders which the modern high speed and special alloy steel have accomplished. We are told that a 3“ shrapnel shell contains seventy drilled holes or a drilling of 19-1/4” in depth. That means that 1,600,000 feet or over three hundred miles of drilled holes are shot away every twenty-four hours on the battle fronts of Europe.

In a publication “Fighting Industry” published by one of our largest twist drill companies in this country, we note that the drilled holes in various implements of our militant harness are as follows:

Four million men must work with tools in order that two million men may fight in France. These men can not, “just be given a tool and told to use it.” It is necessary that they have years of careful training and actual experience in order that they might effectively make use of the intricate tools and machinery which the mother of modern industry is striving to place in their hands. At present every tool steel mill in America is straining its furnaces, hammers and rolling mills to their maximum capacity. They are working days, nights and Sundays and still the demand is far in excess of the supply. Conservative estimations show that with all the added machinery and equipment which is in the process of construction at this time, it will still take at least two years and a half before the tool steel industry of America will come any where near meeting the demand for its product.

As we gaze with belated pride upon the huge structure of our present Preparedness, does it not seem strange to think that the most vital pillar of its whole foundation should have been forgotten and neglected so long and which is therefore now caused to endure such an abnormal and terrific strain? We are at last forced to realize that tool steel is the very essence of our whole existence.

Of course, the great importance of tool steel in this national emergency does not stop with the actual weapons of warfare. Besides the railroads, automobiles, tramways, elevators, bridges, buildings, shoes, clothing and in fact, every branch of the intricate mass of manufactured products so vital to our daily existence, nations are crying for bread. Victory hangs on our food supply. Our threshing machines, our reapers and our harvesting machinery are all working over time. But before the threshing machines can thresh wheat and before the reapers can reap and before the tractors and other farm machinery can contribute their great service to humanity, it is necessary that the American production of tool steel must pass its rigid inspection and yield forth in full measure the great service which it is called upon to give.

APPENDIX.

ANALYSIS, USES AND HEAT TREATMENT OF VARIOUS GRADES OF TOOL STEELS.

Providing the many complications and difficulties which accompany the melting, hammering, rolling, annealing, inspecting and finishing operations, have been successfully accomplished, the chemical analysis of the best grades of tool steel should come within the following limits:

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF HIGH SPEED STEEL.

USES.

Turning, Boring, Planing, Slotting, Shaping Tools. Also Twist Drills, Milling Cutters, Gear Cutters, Taps, Reamers, Special Dies, etc.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Heat slowly in pre-heater to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. Then rapidly in superheater to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, taking care not to burn or fuse delicate projections on special tools. Harden either in air blast, or in good clean oil; keeping tool in motion. In all cases merely the end of the tool to white heat. Draw in oil from 400 degrees Fahrenheit to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF DIE STEEL FOR HOT WORK.

USES.

Hot shear blades, hot punches, header and gripper dies; used in bolt and rivet making. Also excellent for compression sets and in general for all hot work.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Will stand high hardening heats, similar to high speed steel, 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and then 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden either in air or oil. Keep away from water. Draw to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF SPECIAL ALLOY STEEL.

USES.

Specially useful in tools subject to shock, such as hand and pneumatic chisels, boilermakers caulking tools and rivet sets. Also for cold upsetting dies, cold punches, shear blades and stamping dies. A special grade of this steel makes excellent taps.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Heat slowly to a low red, about 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, or if low carbon content to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit; being very careful not to over-heat. Quench in good clean tempered water; keeping tool constantly in motion. Draw from 250 degrees Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF FAST FINISHING SEMI-HIGH SPEED.

USES.

Do not confuse the High Speed, although excellent for turning chilled cast iron, clean finishing cuts. Especially adapted for taps and reamers, as well as for tools for brass, bronze, aluminum, copper and chilled roll turning.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Heat slowly to full bright red, 1425 degrees Fahrenheit to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. Quench in luke warm water. Keep tool constantly in motion. Draw to not over 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE CARBON TOOL STEEL.

USES.

General tool room usage with moderate cutting speeds. Excellent lathe, planer, and shaper tools, drills, shear blades (for cold work only) punches, chisels, files and mining tools.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Heat slowly to Low Red heat, approximately 1375 degrees Fahrenheit (the higher the carbon the lower the heat). Care not to over-heat. Quench in good clean luke warm water. Draw to not over 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF NON-SHRINKING OIL HARDENING STEEL.

USES.

Threading dies, chasers, taps, reamers, and all master tools. For gauges, plugs, etc. Especially adapted for stamping, punching, trimming dies and many other uses where it is necessary to overcome shrinking, warping or change of shape.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Heat very slowly to pre-heating temperature of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, then to hardening temperature from 1360 degrees Fahrenheit to 1425 degrees Fahrenheit, depending upon size of piece being treated.

Harden in lard, linseed or cottonseed oil; preferably fish oil. Do not quench in water.

Draw cutting tools, taps and reamers at 250 degrees to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Large tools such as blanking and stamping dies at 400 degrees to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF SPECIAL HOT WORK ALLOY STEEL.

USES.

An excellent composition for hot work in service for grippers, headers, hot punches, hot shear blades and similar tools. Especially valuable in structural steel and boiler shop work. Rivet sets and bull dies made from a steel of this composition ought to resist breaking and battering.

HEAT TREATMENT.

Very flexible hardening in air, oil or water. If air is used heat to 1675 degrees to 1750 degrees Fahrenheit and place under dry air blast, or stand in cool place. To harden in oil, heat to 1500 degrees to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit and quench in thin oil. To harden in water, heat to 1475 degrees Fahrenheit to 1525 degrees Fahrenheit and quench in cool water. Draw from 250 degrees to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.