Hot Forge vs Cold Forge steel.

[alan camby]

I wonder which is the best?

Sk Tools
"Our premium American-made, cold-forged chrome sockets have been providing precision, power and durability to technicians for generations."
http://www.sktools.com/carousel/chrome-sockets.aspx



"Hot-Forge Process
Wright Tool uses four different hot-forging processes. All tools are forged using tough 4140 alloy steel. Hot-forging gives our products excellent grain flow for higher toughness, longer wear and better reliability than cold-formed tools " http://www.wrighttool.com/why_wright_tool.asp

Wright tools said, "Better reliability than cold-formed". How about Cold Forged?

Does anyone have a list of tool companies that use a hot forge? How about Cold Forge?

Snap-On seems to be the gold standard. Wonder what process they use?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Snap on.....

 

[jakemac]

A hot forging process "should" produce a stronger socket, but would require an annealing and tempering process to get the desired hardness.

Cold forging (or forming) can be done without the annealing/tempering step because the desired hardness is already in the steel. It just may require more force, as well as accounting for the heat that the forging process creates on it's own.

It's really about forming the molecular "grain" of the metal, vs working with the grain the way that it already exists in the stock material.

When you think of hot forging, think of a blacksmith taking a hot iron out of the fire and beating it into shape. In this case it would be a stamping process.

When you think of cold forging, think of Mongo beating a square peg into a round hole with a BFH until it fits. This is a brute force process to achieve the desired shape.

Don't ask me about the structural chemistry, I haven't got a clue.

As for which is best for sockets -
- For chrome sockets, I don't really think it matters as long as some boffin has done the math.
- For Impacts, I think I'd prefer hot forged sockets.
YMMV

 

[alan camby]

This Video shows the snap-on wrench in a hot forge.

Buckgnarly's video is of sockets. I assume that was cold forge?

I wonder how Wright hot forges a socket? If they Do.

 

[T45]

Its a toss up...the various steps all cost money.

SK's finishing process is pretty sketchy. Hopefully their other steps aren't.

 

[Wakefield]

Is cold forging actually too hot to touch-but not hot enough to glow-
hot forging orange hot?

 

[alan camby]

Is cold forging actually too hot to touch-but not hot enough to glow-
hot forging orange hot?

From what I understand, cold forged steel is at room temperature.

 

[jakemac]

From what I understand, cold forged steel is at room temperature.

Yes, but the friction from the striking process generates it's own heat. I wouldn't grab a freshly struck socket until it cooled down.

 

[Danno1]

.


I think Wakefield is closer to correct...


.

 

[alan camby]

I thought he meant the steel going into the process (for cold forge)?

I would think some processes would create heat (high pressure) and some would not (low pressure forming). Just a guess.

 

[alan camby]

From what I have seen in video's, Hot forging has the steel preheated red hot before the process.

 

[Adam.C]

Cold forming adds internal stresses that, when heated, cause the steel to form very fine grain. This can reduce the size of impurities resulting in stronger steel. Hot forming can allow the growth of larger crystals. The advantage of hot forging is that the naturally oblong shape of the crystals can be oriented advantageously. Disadvantage is that dirty steels can form large pockets of weaker impurities.

Both methods can be used to form excellent products. The process alone is not sufficient to determine quality.

 

[jakemac]

See, there's that structural chemistry gobbledygook that I was avoiding. I knew that someone around here would know better.

 

[Steinmetz]

Is cold forging actually too hot to touch-but not hot enough to glow-
hot forging orange hot?

Cold forging is below the recrystallization temperature; hot forging above.

 

[pozidriv]

Is stamping the same thing as cold forging?

 

[Tronyadorable]

Cast is poured. Forged is FORCE.
http://www.atcgroup.com.au/CustomCastingForging/TheDifferenceBetweenCastingForging.aspx

 

[Tronyadorable]

Is stamping the same thing as cold forging?

NO. Stamping is cutting.Like a cookie cutter.

 

[Techie1961]

NO. Stamping is cutting.Like a cookie cutter.

Not true. There are aspects of stamping that are not cutting such as compression and stretching of metals as well as some "forging". It may not fit the parameters of "cold forging" as I do not know what the industrial definition is but there are lots of stampings that have a cold forged aspect.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Not true. There are aspects of stamping that are not cutting such as compression and stretching of metals as well as some "forging". It may not fit the parameters of "cold forging" as I do not know what the industrial definition is but there are lots of stampings that have a cold forged aspect.

They may have the edges receive a "work hardened" aspect.Not to say they can't be broached and enter heat treat later.
If you look at the " wrenches" that come with different items to address a task that "normal" tools can not do ? These are generally 4140 HT and done in dies.
They stamp out millions.........The wrench for your angle grinder is a good example.