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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Hillbilly81 on February 26, 2009, 08:33:00 PM

Title: Steel????
Post by: Hillbilly81 on February 26, 2009, 08:33:00 PM

Picked up some scrap steel from work today.  It's about a 1/4" thick.  Any ideas has to how to tell if it good for knives?

Title: Re: Steel????
Post by: LONGBOWKID on February 26, 2009, 08:42:00 PM

Toss it in your BBQ, and let it get red hot, then quench it in water, put it in a vice, and smack it with a hammer.

If it bends, its not suitable for a knife. If it breaks, its hardenable.

Title: Re: Steel????
Post by: Wampus on February 26, 2009, 09:45:00 PM

A spark test will give you some idea of the carbon content.

 http://www.aussieweld.com/arcwelding/page15/chart2.gif

Title: Re: Steel????
Post by: chiger on February 27, 2009, 01:18:00 AM

I'm with Wampus hillbilly.  

I use the spark test all the time.  Just remember that you need to use a high speed grinder...10,000 rpm or higher to do the test.  But most right angle grinders are anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem.

And do it in a low light area. Makes it easier to see.

Title: Re: Steel????
Post by: Hillbilly81 on February 27, 2009, 08:58:00 PM

Thanks for the info guys I appreciate it.  Hopefully it amounts to something and not junk steel.