bearing question

[Deth]

hello , I'm slowly working on getting into knife making and forging, i have been slowly collecting tools and supplies etc. the question i have is i saw a post about making knives out of bearings but the only steel everyone was talking about is 52100. Is that the only usable steel from bearings you can use to make knives out of, or are their others. Just wondering cause i have access to used bearings and since i can get them for free, if i can use them i'll start collecting them. thanks for any input you guys can throw at me.

 

[JasonSCarter]

It depends on the bearing. get the model numbers off the bearings, call up the company and ask what kind of steel that model is made out of.

Jason

 

[scottickes]

If it's a tapered bearing (separate inner and outer races) it is not 52100. If it's a Spherical Bearing, Ball Bearing or Cylindrical Bearing it may or may not be 52100. Call me at 330-284-3103 and I'll be able to tell you what it is. I am a field service engineer for Timken Bearings and have access to that kind of information. I wouldn't ask me here, since I haven't had time to get on the forums much lately. Calling is the best.