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Tool Hard vise jaws?

Tool

DavidR8

Scrap maker
Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
Saw this in an email from Travers:
Hard vise jaws from 1018 steel? That doesn't make sense to me.
Screenshot 2023-05-16 at 9.09.39 AM.png
 

thestelster

Ultra Member
Premium Member
I'm surprised they would use 1018. Even if case hardened, the core is dead soft, so if you tried to clamp a small part in the vise, and use excess pressure, you might dent the surface. Case hardened parts are great for sliding parts for wear resistance. But a better steel that needs to be cased is 8620, or 9310.

Snap Jaws use 4140 heat treated to 32Rc.
 

DavidR8

Scrap maker
Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
I wrote to Kurt and asked about material used for that specific jaw set.
 

Susquatch

Ultra Member
Administrator
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Premium Member
It's difficult for me to believe they are case hardened to almost 50 thou. But if we take them at their word, go for it!
 

Tom Kitta

Ultra Member
According to ChatGPT using traditional methods this would be very hard to do. They need a longer process / use different compounds.
 

Chipper5783

Well-Known Member
I have 3 Kurts (and just ordered another on the same sale that DavidR8 referenced), whatever the jaws are made out of, they are pretty hard and tough. The first Kurt I got the jaws were in tough shape, I gave them a little lick on the surface grinder - they are still hard. My vote is that Kurt knows what they are doing.
 
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