.7%?

[theTrashMan]

Hey everyone, so I've done some research, and I found a steel that seems to be high carbon enough to make a good edge. The steel throws good sparks, however, after quenching it doesn't skate a file well, (when I say well, it skates, but still scratches.) Even weirder though, the steel does become brittle, and I've sent it through five 400 degree Fahrenheit and it's still brittle. The steel mentioned is apparently rail steel, and it turns out the carbon content is 0.7%. If you have any tips to working this steel to make it usable, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Use or unused rail?
Quenched how, and from what austenitization? Soak time?

 

[theTrashMan]

Quenched in oil, water had the same effect, heated to nonmagnetic. And the rail steel was discarded so I can assume it was used by someone at some point.

 

[skillgannon]

How do you know the carbon content?

 

[theTrashMan]

How do you know the carbon content?

I looked up the carbon content of rail steel, assumed they were pretty much the same based on spark patterns and grain