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My new 2-inch hardy hole tool sheared off at the neck yesterday.
I was punching a slot in a 1/4-inch bar and heard a sharp crack, then the top half just fell onto the anvil face. I think the steel was too brittle from a bad heat treat, but my buddy insists I must have hit it cold. Has anyone else had a tool fail like this from what seemed like normal use?
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grant_ross271mo ago
Man, I was totally in your buddy's camp for years. I blamed every broken tool on a cold hit or bad aim. Then I snapped a brand new punch that was definitely hot, right out of the box. The grain was super coarse and shiny, like chalk. That was a lightbulb moment for me. Now I'm convinced most of the time it's the steel, not the smith. A good tool shouldn't just give up like that under normal use. Sorry you lost a tool, but it probably wasn't your fault.
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