Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: ricktrojanowski on December 05, 2008, 08:05:31 pm

Title: Tradepoint question.
Post by: ricktrojanowski on December 05, 2008, 08:05:31 pm

I am going to try my hand at making some tradepoints for the first time.  I have some 16 gauge weldable steel.  It measures about .05 of an inch.  Does the steel need to be fire hardened in any way or is it good enough the way it is?

Title: Re: Tradepoint question.
Post by: JackCrafty on December 05, 2008, 08:32:07 pm

I would use it as-is....but what's the hardness rating?  If it's regular mild steel, it might be too soft.  But I dunno, I think it has to have a certain carbon content in order to be fire-hardened.....and that's beyond my expertise.

Title: Re: Tradepoint question.
Post by: Minuteman on December 09, 2008, 04:49:30 pm

Do all the shaping to one , get a nice sharp filed edge on it then heat it red til it won't hold a magnet then quench it in oil. If your file doesn't sharpen the edge as easily as it did before  you've successfully hardened it. f theres little or no difference then I'd skip the hardening part and make a few to shoot into the ground just to see how they hold up.
 I killed my first primitive archery deer with a tradepoint made from the steel band off an oak barrel. WAY too soft, but it chopped the top of that little button bucks heart to pieces!

Title: Re: Tradepoint question.
Post by: ricktrojanowski on December 09, 2008, 08:49:19 pm

Thanks for the info Minuteman.  I'll give it a try.

Title: Re: Tradepoint question.
Post by: Minuteman on December 13, 2008, 10:38:33 pm

Let us know how it goes.

Title: Re: Tradepoint question.
Post by: ricktrojanowski on December 14, 2008, 08:10:20 am

I sure will.  I'm finishing up a couple of things and that is next.