Debate: Should we normalize using mild steel for high-wear tools or stick to the hard stuff?

I was reading an old blacksmithing journal from 1984 and stumbled on a claim that mild steel with a good case hardening can outlast high-carbon steel in certain applications like chisels for softer materials. The author argued it's easier to maintain and less brittle, but I've always been taught to go for 1095 or similar for anything that takes a real beating. I'm talking about stuff like cold chisels for metalwork, not just decorative pieces. Has anyone here actually tried that and seen it hold up over six months of regular use?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.grace18d ago

That 1984 article didn't mention what kind of case hardening they were using, did it? For a cold chisel hitting mild steel every day for six months, I'd want to know the exact depth and hardness they got.

janaf7618d ago

Dude yes! I tried it on some cold chisels and they held up way better than I expected for months.