do fabrication shops have a way of testing steel?

K

knifeaholic101

Joined
Oct 17, 2005
Messages
118
anyone know if a fabrication shop has the means to test steel to be able to know what type of steel it is? how is it tested anyway? by computer? meter? chemicals? ect........?
 
try a local heat treat company. they usually have some extent of metallurgical training and can MAYBE tell you what you have
 
Steel analysis is done by several methods .Spectrometry,chromatography,and chemical lab tests can all be involved. Mete or Kevin would be the ones to answer this question best.
 
Most fab shops I deal with do not have the means to test steel. They get it from the mfg and it is normally color coded in some manner. Then it is all inventory control. There are a few tests tha you can learn to get you in the ballpark. Spark testing can be difficult at best but if you are comparing a known sample to unknown you may get lucky. Then there are many different chem tests that you could do if you get the chemicals together. A good book on metalurgy will elp in these areas. After all that, a good steel supplier and even some scrap yards have a spectrograph which can tell you exacly what you have. Some do small saples for a liittle as $25. SOme are more. If you chose to use scrap steel then I would suggest a little hardening testing. See if normal heat treating, Hardening and tempering, provide a servicable blade. You may have to vary some of your cycles but it can be done. Good hunting..

Chuck
 
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