Can anyone help with material identification?

[mike deibert]

I have a couple questions in regards to material to make damascus. In my search for some material to try to make some damascus I have come across some saw blades made by Sandflex for a steel cutting power hack saw. The blades are approx. 14" long x 1.5" thick and 1/8" thick. Would these blades be a good material to layer with something else to make damascus? Does anyone know what type of steel these blades are made from?

Thank you for any help.
Mike

 

[TekSec]

They may be M2 but not sure. Just throwing guesses out there but I'd be interested to know!

 

[Bologna Xpress]

Does it have carbide teeth? if so it probably is chrome vanadium alloy. If not most cold steel blades tend to be M2 or M35, sometimes M4. Maybe call the manufacturer and ask? I had good success calling manufactures of diamond tipped concrete saw blades and finding out there composition.

SRF

 

[mike deibert]

Does it have carbide teeth? if so it probably is chrome vanadium alloy. If not most cold steel blades tend to be M2 or M35, sometimes M4. Maybe call the manufacturer and ask? I had good success calling manufactures of diamond tipped concrete saw blades and finding out there composition.

SRF

Thank you! Maybe I will try to call the manufactorers. That wasn't my first desire as I usually can't find the person who REALLY knows what their product is made of. I'll give it a try though.

Next question. If indeed it is made of M2, M35 or even M4, is this something I should be making a damascus billet out of?
Mike

 

[Don Hanson III]

Not good for making damascus. Get some 15N20 (large bandsaw mill blades 6"-12" wide) and 1084.

 

[mike deibert]

Not good for making damascus. Get some 15N20 (large bandsaw mill blades 6"-12" wide) and 1084.

Thanks a lot Don. You just saved me a lot of time because I would have surely spent the time to weld up a billet by hand only to find that it wasn't worth it.

Living in Nicaragua limits my exposure to many things, namely a large variation of readily available steels. I will be looking into where I can find the blades but I know the 1084 does not exist here (in the form of new bar stock anyway).

Can you recommend a good place to buy 1084? I will be visiting the states soon and should be able to bring some back with me.

Thank you!
Mike

 

[me2]

If those blades are indeed M2, M4, or one of the tungesten based high speed steels, they make fine cutting knives. If they are bi-metal, then they are fine cutting saw blades. Try cutting the spine with a file. If it wont cut, they may be full hardness from spine to edge. If so, they make fine cutting knives where edge holding is of primary concern, and will take a very thin edge. They are not tough by most peoples standards and lateral pressure will chip them. If you decide to make something out of them, and they are a high speed steel like M2, be prepared with a lot of extra grinding time. Let us know how they work out. I love my M2 knife ground from a power hacksaw blade. Its tougher than I expected, but I didnt expect much. It holds an edge like nothing else in my collection.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Kelly Cupples / octihunter@charter.net
2807 Butterfield Rd.
Yakima Wa. 98901
509-949-5231

Kelly's a good source for 15N20 and other steels. If he doesn't have 1084, then 1080 or 1075 will work.

Aldo Bruno is the source for 1084, njsteelbaron@gmail.com

Also try Knife and Gun finishing Suplies for 1084 and 15N20 in smaller sizes.

 

[mike deibert]

Kelly Cupples / octihunter@charter.net
2807 Butterfield Rd.
Yakima Wa. 98901
509-949-5231

Kelly's a good source for 15N20 and other steels. If he doesn't have 1084, then 1080 or 1075 will work.

Aldo Bruno is the source for 1084, njsteelbaron@gmail.com

Also try Knife and Gun finishing Suplies for 1084 and 15N20 in smaller sizes.

Don, Thank you very much for all those contacts. You saved me a lot of time looking for places to buy steel. I'm excited at the thought of finding exactly what I need and not having to search through scrap piles for once!

Mike