Cutting/turning actual valves/stem

[V 45]

How feasible is to cut/turning actual valves from actual V-8 car engines? Are they harder than Wood Pecker lips ? I would like to make something out of them. How hard would it be thread the end of one after cutting the stem off? Could you tap the stem? I know they're hardened but asking none the less. I don't want to break anymore tooling than necessary.
Thanks again

 

[Wizard69]

How feasible is to cut/turning actual valves from actual V-8 car engines? Are they harder than Wood Pecker lips ? I would like to make something out of them. How hard would it be thread the end of one after cutting the stem off? Could you tap the stem? I know they're hardened but asking none the less. I don't want to break anymore tooling than necessary.
Thanks again

I'm not sure it would be worth it.

 

[Hopper]

My old man used to turn truck valves down to fit in his Harley, so it can be done. But it depends on what material the valves are made from. And some have a very hard tip (stellite or the like) on the end where the rocker arm bears that can only be ground, not turned.

 

[V 45]

Thanks for the information. Was hoping to cut the middle of the stem and be able to thread it

 

[KBC]

Yes you can machine valves as long as you use slow speed and plenty of cutting fluid, my tool is H.S. and as soon as tha tip goes off I resharpen the tool otherwise the valve stem hardens.
Make sure as Hopper states that the valve isn't one that has the tip friction welded on as H.S. will not look at it.

I machine valves from a Cummins diesal engine to make the Poppet valve for my Flashsteam engine that has to handle Temps above 500C. the valve is below the spring in the engine pic and is lifted by a Cam on the main shaft, the white packing at the top of the spring is a material called Sandanyo which prevents the heat from the steam transfering on to the spring which would be annealed otherwise.

Don't know about screw cutting or tapping the material which may be dificult.

George.

 

[MachineTom]

You would need a rather large model engine to need more than 50% of a V-8 car valve. Look into motorcycle valves, many of those are 1/2 5/8 in Dia at the head small stems.multi cylinder engines have the smallest valves.