Great Dane excavating co.

[RCP57]

Originally Posted by Cooper

Never thought of drill rod. I know the tolerances are a lot more exact than the stainless I use but for these I think it's fine. And that tool steel might be more of a pita for me to work . Although I need to get some to make shafts for prop balancers. (Center ground on ends but I will get a chance to machine that stuff).

All my hydraulic cylinder's shafts are made with drill rod. For tool steel it actually machines very well. It even threads really nice. That's not to say that there is anything wrong with what you are doing at all. Just another option.... I have found out that it does weird things after you have welded it though. It seems that it becomes very brittle after turning red.

[Joe25]

Originally Posted by RCP57

All my hydraulic cylinder's shafts are made with drill rod. For tool steel it actually machines very well. It even threads really nice. That's not to say that there is anything wrong with what you are doing at all. Just another option.... I have found out that it does weird things after you have welded it though. It seems that it becomes very brittle after turning red.

Which grade are you using RCP? Could be overheating? Or the part is possibly cooling too quickly? I ran into that during my welding class at school (in the dead of winter) would weld a part and put it on my hand carry toolbox to cool in a different room, come back and there's some flaw... took me a minute to realize it was my routine not my welding causing the problem.

Other than that, Cooper very impressive work! Keep it up