Eva, First I cut the silver steel rods using a piercing saw, I use regular files to shape the ends of my tools, to harden and temper the punch I use my blowtorch to heat the working end to a red hot and then quench in water, then I use emery paper to clean off any fire scale from the tool's end, then I use a fine flame on my blowtorch and heat the tool just below the tip and then the steel starts to colour alongside where the flame is, when I see a light straw colour appear at the top of the tool I quench it again in water. The tool is now tempered.
This photo sheet is one I prepared showing how I harden and temper a scorper for use, this is the same method I used for hardening and tempering my chasing tools. If you can print it out it may be of use to you.
James
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