Hey all, new on the forum and metalworking in general. I'm wanting to start a project but am unsure on the materials needed, mainly a crossbow trigger. Really need some advice on what steel I should use and what sort of hardening process would be best, needs to a be a strong finished product but fairly workable as the tools used will be mainly power and hand (don't have access to a vertical mill or anything fancy). Any info would be greatly appreciated, TIA.
Welcome!
It sounds like O1 plate would be what you are looking for. It can be had in most any thickness and is easily hardened by heating it to a dull red, quenching in oil and then tempering to the required hardness. For a simple trigger, the shape could be laid out and sawed to size using hack saw and jeweler saw and finish to the proper profile by hand filing.
When I taught industrial arts in the 70's, I had the students build a project at the beginning of the year using hand tools and then build it again later on using machines. That generated a healthy dose of appreciation for the machines.
Tom
Chinese used bronze and casted the trigger parts,
how complicated are you planning on making the trigger,
you can go a lot of metal removal with just a hacksaw and some good files don't get the cheap crap ones from china
The steel and process has been answered.
My two cents on this is to make it out of wood first, get a feel for using files and also the design and finial product can be achieved, eyeballing a made product will save you much time in doing the real thing.
Anthony..