6150 Experience

[Sando]

OK I'm forging some stuff, playing with 5160. But I just can't leave well enough alone.

Anybody play with 6150? I've heard tell of a few makers trying it. Plus Goddard says it gives a vivid hamon.

Steve

 

[Mark Nelson]

I have no experience with it but I found this before if it will help.

http://www.suppliersonline.com/propertypages/6150.asp


It says that it should be forged at 2,200 F, Which seems mighty high. Not that I would know really but let us know if you try it.

 

[Danbo]

I've got a little of it, and have forged a blade out of it. Haven't gotten far along to the heat treatment stage, but I can tell you it forges very easily. Much more easily than L6 or W2. 6150 has a little less carbon than 5160, but contains vanadium, so edge holding should be decent to good. Probably not going to hold an edge like O1, but should be a good bit tougher.

 

[peter nap]

As a matter of fact...I found out that one of the major lock makers in the US is using 6150 for his springs. I did a little research on HT'ing it and from what I can see, it's basically 5160 that won't get as hard but takes more wear.

I'm sure Mete can shed some more light on this.

I did not see where it would be any better than 5160 (and we all know that is the king of steel ).

 

[mete]

Somewhere in my dim dark history do I remember that bayonets were made of 6150 ?? The MAXIMUM forging temp is 2200 F, keep it below that .Other than that it should be similar to 5160.

 

[Danbo]

One reason to maybe start using 6150, instead of 5160 is the cleanliness issue. It's getting really hard to find clean 5160 lately. 6150 is clean stuff.

 

[Daniel Koster]

"clean"?