forklift blades?

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Feb 6, 2001
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Anyone know what kind of steel forklift blades are made out of. I had a friend drop off about 3' off the tips last night. I think their case hardened but, I have no idea if they're worth while.
 
I don't think they're case hardened, I've heard that people do make good knives outa them, I'll try remember where I saw it.
 
probably 4140 or 4340 or something similar. Makes good anvils or hammers. little low in carbon for a good knife.....
 
apparently 8620 & various chrome/moly steels, amongst others.

grind a piece off, harden & tap wiv an 'ammer;)
 
Hi,
Case hardening is the migration of carbon into iron or mild steel to enable it to be hardened on the surface only, this has been in the past a cheap method of producing things like files. It's relatively simple & can be done in a blacksmiths forge.
 
don't know any reason a fork would be hardened or case hardened, tough and flexable are the requirements for a fork lift fork.

you can case harden with a commercial product called caeisenite

or pack the steel to be hardened in carbon material (leather hoove trimmings etc). and hold the steel at 900 to 1000 f for a few hours. The hardened steel layer will only be few hundreths thick but it serves the purpose.
 
DaQo,

Case hardening allows the tool to not be brittle but hard on its exterior. For example: Grade 8 bolts are case hardned so they can flex somewhat under stress without breaking yet exhibite the hardness required for their usage.

Roger
 
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