With case hardening, there is going to be post hardening machining for softer materials required for what you want to do.
If you're going to make your holders from A2 or similar tool steel, you can most likely get away with hardening and then straight to your tool post.
When I get off my butt and start making videos again, the case hardening video is first on the list. I plan on just using fire brick and charcoal with an air blast to get it up to temp. You can easily melt aluminum with such a setup, so getting a chunk of steel red should be a piece of cake.
Tom
Mike, I just used 1018. No hardening. Eventually I went the CDCO route. If you go that route, get the wedge type, not the piston. I have one of each and don't like the piston type.
I made a very basic forge out of an old wheel rim and I have gotten many a big chunk of steel glowing nice and red using some hardwood off cuts and a fan for a blower. No need to build a furnace.
Vinnie,
I already have the post. It's a piston type, from CDCO, IIRC. When I bought the set, there was a pretty good price difference between the piston and the wedge. Nowadays, they're almost the same.
Unless/until I can steal a Dorian or Aloris post, I'll probably just stick with what I have.
The first thing I need to harden are the knurl carriers, from Tom's video. I suspect I can do somethng that small with MAPP.