Recomendation of alloy to strike with a hammer 2

[jmen68]

I am searching for a steel alloy recommendation to make a shop made tool that is basically a longer and larger diameter nail set tool, nail set like you would use in carpentry to countersink a nail. I am searching for, hopefully, a non exotic alloy that can be purchased easily in round bar stock. Tool description is a 7/8" diameter X 12" long round bar with a 5/8" diam. X 1/4" deep hole on one end of the bar (used to go over the nail head and center the tool) and the other end will be square cut to be struck with a carpenters hammer or light weight maul. If this was a one time use tool I would not even bother you guys asking for a suggestion but I need it to survive a few thousand nails with a handful of blows per nail. Oh and for it to not splinter off and maim one of my guys is a bonus! thanks in advance.

 

[EdStainless]

It needs to be made like a punch, harder at the working tip and softer where it is struck.
Typically you would use a fairly high hardenability steel. This could be anything from 4140 to O1 tool steel, and a bunch of other options.
When done harden the entire tool, then temper it so that the working end reaches 450-500F and the end to be struck reaches something near 1000F or a bit higher depending on the alloy.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[SnTMan]

jmen68, your guys will likely have to grind the mushroom head off the struck end every so often. Like a cold chisel.

Regards,

Mike

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[mfgenggear]

@jmen68
I would go with ED suggestions, My Pick would be O-1 ,temper as suggested by ED.
make several so while reworking some, they can keep working, I don't see a problem for nail heads.
O-1 is readably available on shelve.

 

[jmen68]

Excellent, thanks for the suggestions!