Can I machine Silver Steel OK with HSS End Mills?

I'm struggling to get a good answer on this.

I need to make some boring head tools ( I can't buy what I need off the shelf) so silver steel would seem best as it can be hardened.

At the minute I'm just planning to machine alu with the tools I make but at some point would probably want to machine mild steel.

I have a hobby sieg X2 type milling machine and standard HSS end mills.

In its soft state (as bought) silver steel can be machined with HSS.

You will need to be very cautious about cutting speeds when you use them though. But, it's the best the Victorians had and they managed so go for it.

Rod

Yes, but it likes sharp tools. Get the best finish you can. It will typically expand slightly on heat treatment, enough to allow you to finish with a stone after hardening.

What sort of boring tools are you making. I got a load of excellent HSS ones off ebay that were made by Deckel and mostly unused,they work brilliantly. Many people make similar using silver steel and then hardened.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 24/11/2017 21:20:08

Edited By mark smith 20 on 24/11/2017 21:20:54

Hello Mark.

I make my boring tools shanks from silver steel, turned down to the appropriate diameters, then cross drilling at the end at a suitable angle, normally circa 45 degrees to then fit and silver solder an old hss centre drill protruding through the hole. finally grind down the hss centre drill to the form you need. Silver soldering will not affect the hardness of the hss.

regards Anna

Some boring tools all are made by myself. Some are silver steel, some are high speed steel with grub screws, some have carbide tips silver soldered in place and some are made from solid high speed steel.

David

Cutting oil makes a big difference on silver steel. Neat works well.