A lesson on tools and their metals

[MaxFarmer]

So we all know made in the USA is the best stuff. Made in China is junk. What about Taiwan? Japan? I heard that bearings from Japan (and tools also) are close to USA made stuff and not cheap crap like China made products?

Which leads me to metals. What do you WANT your tools made out of? The china stuff is usually chrome vandium? What is that anyway?

Just curious as I was at a farm show yesterday and they always have the "cheap tool tent" where I always get suckered into that cheap $10 pry bar set or $20 creeper and chair set only to have my knuckles cracked on the first good pry of the bar while the wheels simultaneously fall off the creeper.......
Cant beat the $5 magnetic part tray though!

 

[dmax tim]

The china stuff is usually chrome vandium? What is that anyway?

chrome vandium is a mix of alloys to make steel stronger. they just don't have the heat treat and draw process down to make it strong.

black smith I know buys the stuff, tests it and heat treat/ draws it and makes them decent tools.

 

[MaxFarmer]

This may sound stupid---do I just get them red-hot with a torch to heat treat them?

 

[the4wheeler]

theres a little more to it than just heating it up with a torch
quick and dirty heat it up good and evenly till it looses its ability for a magnet to stick , drop it in water to quench it or if your going with something that need a relay hard surface used motor oil is the ticket

but as you harden something it becomes more brittle so you have to temper it ( i don't rember if that's the right term.) but basically heat it back up to a certen temperature and let naturally cool

yes to do it right way threes specific steps, temperatures ect... it been a fiew years since metal shop but thats what i recall off hand.