Cropper & ForgeWarden
Cropper
Morning, I've been tinker‑in’ with that old iron plowshare, and I heard you make some of the finest blades. Maybe you'd have a crack of an idea about what kind of steel would hold up best in the fields?
ForgeWarden
Use a high‑carbon steel, something like 1060 or 1080. Forge it, heat‑treat, then temper. That gives the edge and toughness the field needs.
Cropper
Thanks for the tip. I've heard folks talk about 1080 being strong, but I've always trusted the old 1045 from the foundry in town. Maybe we can get both for a comparison. What do you think?
ForgeWarden
Sure, get both. 1045 will hold a decent edge but can be a bit soft in heavy use. 1080 gives more edge retention and hardens better, but you’ll need to temper carefully to keep it from cracking. Compare the two after you’ve forged and heat‑treated them the same way, and see which one works best for your plowshare.
Cropper
Got it. I’ll set up the forge, keep the temperatures steady, and make sure we temper both the 1045 and the 1080 evenly. Once they’re cooled, I’ll test the edge on a few rows of corn and see which steel keeps its bite longer. I’ll bring both to the field tomorrow and let you see how they perform side by side.
ForgeWarden
Sounds good. Bring them out when the soil’s firm enough, and let the ground do the judging. I'll wait for the results.
Cropper
Sure thing, I'll bring 'em out when the ground’s set. Can't wait to see how they hold up. See you tomorrow.
ForgeWarden
I'll be ready. Bring them in when the field's dry. We'll see which one stays true. See you tomorrow.