bearings

L

LRICE

Joined
Jan 24, 2000
Messages
55
I have access to alot (read tons) of large roller bearings and races (races are 15"-24" diameter. Some are unused). Been thinking of trying to do some forging. Is this stuff any good? It's probably 51200? I can get it for about $0.20/lb. Any tricks or tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Leonard
 
Leonard,
First you need to make sure it's 52100. If all of the bearings and races are the same, get your hands on one and test it. To do this, forge a piece down to around 1/8" or less thickness, bring to critical (non-magnetic) and quench in oil. Then hold the piece on the anvil and tap with a hammer. 52100 should break like glass. Another method is to insert the hardened piece into a vise, and try to flex it, again, if it's usabe a knife material, it should snap with very little effort. The only time I would recommend using "scrap" is if, as in your case, you have access to a large amount, at a good price. Never assume that a part is made out of a particular steel until you've tested it for yourself. Even then you will want to make one or two test blades to confirm your suspicions as to it's origin. Good Luck!



------------------
Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com
 
I read over at www.swordforum.com at the bladesmith cafe, that Timken does not use 52100 in their bearings, I beleive it was 92 something or other I have forgotten, the part I remembered was that they were not 52100. I made a knife from a Timken race and it does not hold an edge as well as 5160.
 
Leonard most (95%) of large timkin bearings are case hardened and no good for knife making unless you want to make damascus the hard way. I just went thru what you are with anouther manufacter and was lucky enough to have manufactured and tested 52100 bearings.
Go to a local bearing distributer and give them the manufacters name and the part number. They should be able to get you the steel specs. Even if it is speced 52100 have it tested because they may sub case hardened materials in certian factories to cut costs.
BE CAREFUL.

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Robert
Flat Land Knife Works
rdblad@telusplanet.net
http://members.tripod.com/knifeworks/index.html
 
Thanks to all, I shouldn't have any trouble finding the specs as I am aquainted with the distributor. I will make sure what they are before I "waste time" trying to make something out of them.
Thanks Again
Leonard
 
Yes some are new, I assume they were dumped from the warehouse when that equipment was scrapped. Not alot of resale value cause most people don't have 150-240 ton trucks in their driveway. Others are slightly used because some of the "mechanics" don't replace just the bad one, they replace everything. I see no reason you couldn't use them but they are BIG.
 
I was just thinking, some of the guys that build those super duper wood turning lathes and the like might have a use for them. Or possible use for forge rolling, the recent article in Blade on the Damascus weld roller comes to mind.
 
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