The local tool steel distributor happened to mention they now have a Niton analyzer. What the heck is a Niton analyzer, you might ask. Well it's a neat little gun that uses x-ray diffraction to analyze steel. Basically, you point it at a piece of steel and it tells you the percent composition (Fe, Cr, Mo, W, V, etc.). From that analysis, it determines the type of steel (M2, O1, D2, etc). Great little gadget.
Ah Ha! I have always wondered what those crappy hand tools from Harbor Freight were made from. If they're made from mild steel, there is no hope. They're crap. BUT, if they're made of some type of tool steel and just not heat treated right... well that opens possibilities. So, I took a hand full of HF tools for analysis.
Within a minute we knew the composition of several Pittsburgh Steel, Chicago Tool and Warrior brand tools. I'm sorry to say they are all cold rolled steel, probably a poorly controlled Chinese version of 1018. The analyzer simply said "cold rolled" and listed iron contents between 98.23 and 99.04%.
So, now you have the scientific proof you always needed. HF stamping tools, punches, pliers, etc should only be used on plastic and should only be hit (softly) with a wooden mallet. Forget using them on mild steel.
In fairness, I should point out several of their drill bits now specify they are made of M-2 steel. They might be OK. I didn't test those.
Ah Ha! I have always wondered what those crappy hand tools from Harbor Freight were made from. If they're made from mild steel, there is no hope. They're crap. BUT, if they're made of some type of tool steel and just not heat treated right... well that opens possibilities. So, I took a hand full of HF tools for analysis.
Within a minute we knew the composition of several Pittsburgh Steel, Chicago Tool and Warrior brand tools. I'm sorry to say they are all cold rolled steel, probably a poorly controlled Chinese version of 1018. The analyzer simply said "cold rolled" and listed iron contents between 98.23 and 99.04%.
So, now you have the scientific proof you always needed. HF stamping tools, punches, pliers, etc should only be used on plastic and should only be hit (softly) with a wooden mallet. Forget using them on mild steel.
In fairness, I should point out several of their drill bits now specify they are made of M-2 steel. They might be OK. I didn't test those.