Not really.

Forged props are cut from a block of steel formed under intense pressure. the Molecular stucture is perfect. Therein lies the reason for less blade failures.

Because of the way it is formed, it comes in large blocks. This means the machining process to propeller geometry would be greatly lengthened.

The reason forged props are soooo expensive is first you have to make a set of dies to do the forging. Until recently forged props were availble only in 3 blade configurations as it wouldn't be practical to forge more than that due to the over lap of the blades.

Currently forgings are being made similar to a cereal bowl. Then the prop can be cut from that.

It takes us about 20+ hours to machine a surface drive prop from a casting. A billet block or a forging would weigh about 600 lbs. When it's finished it would weigh about 22-25 pounds. Imagine the machine time to remove 580 pounds of material. We aren't talking aluminum or cold rolled steel, that would be easy. Stainless, the 15-5, 17-4, 13-8 series, is a rather tough material to machine and material just doesn't come off that fast.

Not to mention cost of the material. A bilet block large enough to cut a 17" diameter prop from would cost about $3,000+ for the material alone. If forged, you would have to add the cost of the forging process to that.

It was a rhetorical question. Rob had asked if cast props were cut out of blocks or rough castings.

The casting is made from a mold we design and manufacture in house. It's taken us a fair amount of trial and error to get the casting where we want it. There is enough material on the casting where we a great deal of flexibility to change the design and characteristics of the propeller. While at the same time not have an excessive amount of material to remove.

what material is that prop made out of in your avatar? Is that off of a victory boat?

good info,thanks, Is anybody doing billet props, were a person doesn't mind the cost, and or would a billet prop make any difference?


I am assuming it probably looks like a blank forged crank

Julie,

The props look awesome, I'm sure they will be a big hit.

Best of luck, although I'm sure you won't need it.
Always a pleasure talking with you.

Don

Hering offers forged props, basically double the price of cast.

I am assuming that TU and Brett have forged blanks they start with?

Our props are made of castings, they are not forged. Although we certainly have the capability of maching them, as a manufacturer of propellers. Brett is not a manufacturer but rather a propeller tuning shop.