Subject: Brunner & Lay Handout

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 09:40:32 -0500

Instructions for Sharpening and rehardening Brunner & Lay Moil Points

Brunner & Lay Moil Points are hardened all over and in order to maintain
this hardness throughout the life of the tool we suggest the following
procedure:

To reshape the point, it should be heated to a bright red, preferably not
to exceed 1700 degrees F. The heat should be very short, not to exceed 1",
and only sufficient to do the necessary pointing. After forging, the tool
should be allowed to cool in air. If quenching oil is available it would be
well to quench the point immediately after repointing and then proceed to
harden. For hardening, heat the point a very short distance back from the
cutting edge to a cherry red or about 1450 degrees F. and quench in brine
about one inch back, leaving a certain amount of heat in the steel just
above the quenching line. This heat is usually sufficient to draw the
temper in the point back to a blue color and as soon as this takes place,
the entire point should be quenched in water.

The proper tempering heat is 450 F. To observe the temper color the point
should be polished with an abrasive or by rubbing on a sanded board. This
should be done immediately on removal from the brine quench. When drawing
the temper by color, it must be carefully watched and the entire point
quenched in water immediately the color is observed.

The average blacksmith is inclined to give the steel too much heat, both
for forging and hardening. It is always advisable to heat the steel slowly
and harden with as low a heat as possible to obtain the required hardness.
Also note that the heat must be confined as closely as possible to the
point to avoid drawing the temper out of the remainder of the tool.

If the tool appears to be soft on the cutting edge, it indicates hardening
at too low a temperature or too high a drawing temperature. Brittleness or
chipping is due to hardening at too high a temperature or insufficient
drawing of the temper.

Keep the point sharp, because a dull tool is hard on the steel, the hammer
and the operator. Sharpen them properly and your tools will pay dividends
in performance.

Longer life means tool economy.

END OF HANDOUT

This is the handout sent to me by Brunner & Lay about 15 years ago. You may
recall that it is different than the process I posted a few days ago. That
process is the one used by Brunner & Lays sharpening facility in the
Chicago area as told to me by Bill at Brunner Lay.
You are, of course, on your own.

Bob Schade