Steel Striker
Construct a working replica of the steel strikers used by frontiersmen.
Materials
- protective eyewear
- hacksaw or cold chisel
- ball-peen hammer
- machinist's vise
- propane torch
- heat retention material (such as Fyrex paper or other asbestos sheeting substitute)
- vise grip pliers
- salt water
- old flat file (approximately 8" x 1" x l/4" file or 20 cm x 2.5 cm x .5 cm) for striker file
Procedure
- Refer to general instructions for metalworking. Soften the file by heating it to a glowing red and letting it cool gradually. While it is still warm, either saw the file in half lengthwise or lay it on a hard surface and split it using the cold chisel and hammer. In either case, the end result should be two pieces of metal about 8 inches (20 cm) long by l/2 inch (1.5 cm) wide by l/4 inch (.5 cm) thick.
- After putting an end of the metal piece securely in the vise (be sure jaws are padded with heat retention material), grip the exposed end of the file with the vise grip pliers. Heat about l/3 of the length from the upper end of the file until it is cherry red. Slowly bend the metal into the shape shown. Be sure not to twist the metal while bending. Pause occasionally to reheat the metal. When one bend is made, let the file cool and reverse it in the vise. Now, make a bend in the other end.
- When the striker is properly shaped, file the outside surface smooth. Then re-harden the metal by heating it to glowing red (an orange-red) and plunging it into salt water.
- Test the striker with a reliable piece of flint. It should throw a shower of sparks; if not, repeat the hardening process.
