Having some clinchers to mount, I went to town shopping for tire irons. After I recovered from sticker shock, I went to the welding supply and paid $5.09 for five feet of steel which I cut into three pieces. I think $1.70 each for three beats $35 plus tax for one. These worked fine, but when we get past the 100º days and the weather is more reasonable, I'll temper and harden them.
Ahhhh,......I don't know Steve,........looks to me like "Mr. Thrifty is slip'n a bit. I would have bet that you have a few extra loose Model "T" spring leaves laying around,...???
The comment about springs is funny. Myself and my family before me have operated slate quarries here in Vermont for almost 100 years. For as long as I can remember the blacksmiths all prefered model T springs to make the chisels to split the roofing slate...
The used springs is a solid idea. I use old springs for not only tire irons, but metal working as well.
Now that I am thinking about it, The other thing that comes back to me is that the drive shafts were made into crow bars to lift the stone. There are still several around here. from Back in the days of iron men and wooden ships I guess...
Steve ... aren't they tempered enough with the heat ... or didn't you run to the mountains and quench them in the snow, fast enough?
That looks like hot rolled mild steel to me........ ?
If that's what it is,that's what it is.
There'll be no tempering or hardening.
That strap (flat) stock probably won't harden and temper all that well any way if it's A36. Structural steel (A36) is formulated to remain ductile. Old springs make great tools though.
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-general-purpose-tire-iron-93230.html
Hardly seems worth the effort.
WOW!! Thanks for finding that Gary, last NEW iron I bought was from the local Honda shop, It's very nice, only 12" long and was $16.
I have 2 of the Harbor Freight variety above. They just barely fit diagonally in a Model T running board toolbox, which is a bonus as well.
I found 2 shortened T front leaf springs under the seat of my Grandfather's 24 Coupe years ago when I inherited it.
Pretty sure he used them for tire irons.
I just stopped at Harbor Freight and acquired two
for $10.50 I think they will work well on my old tire mounting machine.
Bob