Built scroll wrench, broke scroll wrench

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I used some sucker rod to build a scroll wrench today. A spark test showed the sucker rod to fairly high carbon, and so I thought it would work well.I drew a narrow heat on one end, bent it to 90 degrees, notched and welded another piece below it with 7018.I decided to test my weld by torquing on some cold bar.  My weld held, but the rod broke just outside of where I had drew the heat for the first bend.  I'm guessing quenching the metal made it a little bit brittle, and was the wrong thing to do, or at least I should have tempered it after.Think so?It still works, so I'll just try building another and keeping this one around.OLD miller M-295  (AC)Century 230/140 ac/dcVictor torchNot much else but some cheap tools.
Reply:I've always just built mine out of cold or hot roll because it's what I have around the shop. Haven't broken one yet. I like the term "scroll wrench". We've always called the "tuning forks". One of your best tools for doing ornamental stuff. 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderI've always just built mine out of cold or hot roll because it's what I have around the shop. Haven't broken one yet. I like the term "scroll wrench". We've always called the "tuning forks". One of your best tools for doing ornamental stuff.