guy wire specs?

C

cwhittington

Joined
Sep 6, 2002
Messages
106
I've got a length of utility pole guy wire that quenches well in oil and I haven't found anything yet on the internet about the steel used for that application. I was surprised that I couldn't find anything here or on another site about it since it seems like good damascus material with large individual wires. Does anyone know anything about it? Now I just need to find a source for it- I got lucky and found this one in a garbage pile.
Thanks
 
Guy wire usually is galvanized(zinc coated) you don't want that for damascus.
 
Mete- How right you are- that's why I took it off with acid. Most of the steel I get has rust on it too- I'll bet it's happened to you before- and I'll bet you dealt with it- no problem. If something like a coating stopped us, we'd be watching the tube instead! Thanks for the info.
 
Mete- I apologize for the tone of my last post- guess I had one of those days. I offer a sincere thank you for your input!
 
This place is like a close family....Every once in a while, someone lets a sharp remark slip.
I'd like to seer how the cable turns out CW. There sure is a lot of it around!
 
No problem.Zinc is good on the outside of steel not the inside, makes it brittle. That's why you should grind off galvanizing if you are going to weld it. Also remember that zinc fumes from welding etc are toxic !
 
I was wondering of a good way to remove galvanizing. You mentioned acid. I was wondering if you would care to elaborate on that.
 
GH- I separate the wires from the cable and soak them in muriatic acid, which is really hydrochloric acid and sold for cleaning concrete at Home Depot or hardware stores. The reaction is immediate with a lot of bubbling and fuming so it must be done in an appropriate area. I don't believe any of the fumes contain zinc but the fumes are toxic.
I let the wire soak until the reaction stops and then I rinse in baking soda solution and then water, dry and then use steel wool to get them really clean and shiny.
Here's a pic of an unfinished guy-wire blade that I etched to see the pattern.
 
it wil make you feel like you have the flu and you will swear your chest is full of fluid and cold chills can't get warm and your sore :barf: noooo gooood :eek:
 
CHris thanks for sending me the blade pic good job.

I use 5/16 wire for my letter openers solid rod not rope. It has a coating on it
possibly galvanized. When I burn it in the fire it throws of a lot of smoke and muck. but comes off. I always use my outdoor forge for burning the coating off.
 
Hey Reg- Yeah- the forge does a good job of removing it too- and it sure makes a pretty blue flame! I didn't mention that method because I didn't want any lectures on how dangerous the fumes are, etc- even though it is the easiest way to do it in my opinion. On the subject of zinc- I was trying to make some nickel silver by melting down nickels and pennies in a graphite crucible with my oxy/propane torch and I first melted the nickels and then started adding the pennies but they didn't melt into the nickels (not hot enough with my torch) so I hit them with the torch and after a few moments they started to burn with that beautiful blue color- Of course I knew that the zinc was now becoming zinc oxide so I removed the torch and the penny kept burning for a bit. In the dark it is a great pyrotechnic show! And yeah-
don't breathe the fumes!
 
DId you put any boax flux in when trying to melt your metals together. I don't know if it would work or if the forge could get the metal hol enough.

On the pyro show I used to collect the metal filing from my grinder and sprinkle them into the flams of my charcoal forge at night time. My kids like it but I like it just as much. I have an outside forge and consider the safety angles when I do that kind of thing.
 
Hello Reg
I had a non knife related question for you but your email shows as private.
Could you email me or if you want to keep your address private, leave me a message on my company site www.xruninc.com.
Thanks
 
the fumes from burning the galvanized off will make you sick :barf: if you do this get a welding respirator and drink 1/2 gallon of milk ;)
 
Gannmade- Thanks for the tip! I've never heard about the milk.

Reg- I did put quite a bit of borax in with the coins- and I haven't checked the melting point of nickel silver, or the copper/nickel alloy that our nickels (5 cent coins) are made of. I should check that!
 
peter nap said:
This place is like a close family....Every once in a while, someone lets a sharp remark slip.
I'd like to seer how the cable turns out CW. There sure is a lot of it around!
Click to expand...
YEP, I know one Dude how does it all the time. :footinmou :confused: :D
 
Hello Peter

My email is reg_ellery@optusnet.com.au there is a _ between the reg and the ellery.

Gannmade I have heard that milk thing before. My brother is a trademan black smith trained at the western australia railways he does not work at the trade now but I remember when he was an apprentice many years ago telling me to drink lots of milk and that the fumes would make me sick or kill me.

Thanks for bringing it up I nearly mentioned it but I did not know if it was true or just something I remembered as a kid. I never burn a lot at one time and always out in the fresh air. And I stand up wind so it is going the other way.

Chris have a go at linking a pic of your blade to the thread.
The cable in CW knife has a good etch. I would like to hear what some of the other blokes think. I have an idea which may be right or may be wrong.
I think that the sections that don't etch and therefore stand up are the actual areas where the welds occur can anyone set me straight.
 
I've worked as a boilermaker for 9 yrs before going into inspections and have had galvanized poison several times. :grumpy:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top