Hi Windy, putting in a joggle probably not the best idea, its a pretty tough and not very ductile material, better to do it with heat but there again it depends on how big a joggle and how close together you want the bends? If you do try it cold it depends on the final use–heat treated or left soft? If to be left soft it would be wise to normalise the component.

Form tools, yes it works I have used it in the past but only on softer steels, you would have to run quite slow with plenty of coolant to avoid overheating.

Heat treatment, depends on the size of the tool [x section] you may well be able to use a torch providing it is big enough to get the tool [cutting end] to the correct temperature and quench in oil, temper VERY carefully to a very pale straw and heat slowly. Also make sure you are in daylight when tempering do not try to do it in artificial light the colours are not correct.

Regards John

Paul, Its worth bearing in mind carbon steel is actually capable of being harder than HSS and will take a finer edge. An old guy I knew in the gun trade in Birmingham always made his chamber reamers from case hardened mild steel and because they were "sharper" than HSS, the results were excellent. Have to say though modern tooling is now very "technical" and the results from it are amazing!

What size dia are your ball ends? Presume you have thought about a ball turning attachment!

John

Paul, run the lathe in back gear, and take it quietly, but positively, and pour on a good amount of suds. Rough the ball down to nearly the size, the form tool will not need to take off very much, one of those jobs that takes longer to set up, than to do, I know, I,v had quite a few, although my form tools were mostly3/8" and 7/16" HSS, except for one or two made from bits of old files clamped on a mild steel bar (in a similar way that carbide tips are clamped with a bridge clamp). Ian S C