A Steel worth forging?

[Scott Hartman]

I was with another inspector today viewing a new pump station. There were cut-offs from 1 inch re-bar scattered around and I threw it in the truck. I spoke with the engineer and he pulled the specs on the re-bar, ASTM-615 Grade 60(.30-.40%C)(1.20-1.60%Mn)(.35-.60%Si)(.06%P)(.06%S)
Carbon-wise,that appears to be like a 1030 to 1040 steel,but with more Manganese and Silicon.Right? My chart only has composition limits for 1010-1020 and 1045.
Would this 1" re-bar forge into usable blades?

 

[bartblade]

not for sure but i read in a book that if you grind the unknown piece on a bench grinder and you get alot of sparks its good knife material
if not you could always use them for practice or to make tools like tongs and stuff

 

[Mike Ferrara]

It doesn't sound like good blade steel to me. I'd rather have something with at least .5% carbon. There's plenty of other stuff you could make from it though.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Not usable for blades.Would be fine for forge tools and decorative items.

 

[tmickley]

Not usable for blades.Would be fine for forge tools and decorative items.

I agree with Stacey. It's no good for knives but you can get it semi-hard by using Superquench. Do a search here and google. Superquench is a home made water quench recipe made just for getting low carbon steel hard and has had some limited sucess.

 

[Scott Hartman]

Gentlemen,
I thank you for your replies and information. No sense in putting a lot of time and effort into a blade that won't cut butter.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Oh,it will cut butter.The problem is it will get dull by the end of the stick.

 

[Terry_Dodson]

Would it be good for forging into hawks? They dont need to be as hard as a knife right?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Should be about the same as rail road spikes, so a hawk would work.

 

[john warren]

the worst you can do is have some fun banging on it. make a test peice and find out.

I was with another inspector today viewing a new pump station. There were cut-offs from 1 inch re-bar scattered around and I threw it in the truck. I spoke with the engineer and he pulled the specs on the re-bar, ASTM-615 Grade 60(.30-.40%C)(1.20-1.60%Mn)(.35-.60%Si)(.06%P)(.06%S)
Carbon-wise,that appears to be like a 1030 to 1040 steel,but with more Manganese and Silicon.Right? My chart only has composition limits for 1010-1020 and 1045.
Would this 1" re-bar forge into usable blades?