Carbon distribution in a canister billet?

L

Leon Husock

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Jul 17, 2019
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I made a canister with safety pins and powdered 1095. The actual pin/wire part of the safety pin I know is HC (heated it up, quenched it and snapped it in two) but the part that holds the pin doesn't seem to be since it bends after quenching. Will a couple of good long soaks at welding heat be enough to even out the carbon across the whole billet so I don't have to worry about one of those little bits of mild steel ending up in my edge? The mild bits are very small compared to the volume of 1095 powder.
 
I would venture that they will harden up some by diffusion. Also, once forged out the pieces will be very small in thickness and may be insignificant.

Just a note on shop procedures - I would not judge that a piece of steel is HC just because it quenches and breaks. Try it with a coat hanger or a bar of 1/16" 1018. It usually snaps like glass .... Especially if you water quench.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I would venture that they will harden up some by diffusion. Also, once forged out the pieces will be very small in thickness and may be insignificant.

Just a note on shop procedures - I would not judge that a piece of steel is HC just because it quenches and breaks. Try it with a coat hanger or a bar of 1/16" 1018. It usually snaps like glass .... Especially if you water quench.
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Hmm. All my research suggests that safety pins are 1060+, so I think I'm probably safe, but that's good to know. Plus when I did the same test on pins and tacks they bent.
 
I agree that the safety pins are medium carbon steel. I was just commenting that a break test is not a firm indication of carbon content.
 
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