Greetings GG's
Just curious.  I see the prices of drawbore pins on various web sites
($100 ++ / pair) and I'm wondering why old knife steels wouldn't work
just as well.  I find them at garage sales worn out for a buck or
two.  Yeah. it's probably a bit more brittle as steel goes, but gee,
ya really gotta crank on a piece of hardened steel 1/2" dia to break
it.  What am I missing here?

Tom
(who thinks it's about high time I make something with M&T / pinned
construction....good for the soul)

>Tom wrote..."
>   I see the prices of drawbore pins on various web sites
> ($100 ++ / pair) and I'm wondering why old knife steels wouldn't work
> just as well....  Yeah. it's probably a bit more brittle as steel goes,
but gee,
> ya really gotta crank on a piece of hardened steel 1/2" dia to break
> it.  What am I missing here?"
>
>
>
>...Most sharping steels that i have seen have been very hard, and  don't
think they will stand up to being used for a draw pin, even if 1/2 in. dia.
they would break very easy if subject to any sidways pressure,[think how
easy a file will snap in two], I think a better choice would be those old
wrench's that comes to a point on one end, that were used as draw pins , in
riviting and bolting stuff together in the past, and should work good for
what you want.....Todd

> > ($100 ++ / pair)

A hundred bucks a pair? WowWhat about pinch bars? Lever on one end, drawbar on
the other. $5 any Sears Roebuck
Well, maybe 8 bucks in the big size, but sheesh.
  The rattail wrenches Todd was talking about are really cool for lining up and
bolting pipe flanges and I wish I could find a 15/16" for just this purpose to
use at work. Don't see many around here. So, I have to carry a pinch bar AND a
wrench (sniff).
    yours,  Scott
*******************************
   Scott Grandstaff
   Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
   scottg@s...
   http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html