Having steel analyzed for content

S

stevomiller

Joined
May 4, 2001
Messages
1,553
Guys,

I have a 150lb US made cast steel anvil that needs to be re-heat treated. I don't know if it was in a barn fire or what.The company that made it went out of business 20 years ago and I have no idea what steel they made it out of. A local heat treater has said that he will heat treat for only $100, but won't do it until he knows what steel it is. Can any of you recommend somebody that could analyze the steel? How big of a piece of material will they need? What is the average cost for this service?

Thanks in advance,
Steve
 
Wow, I never thought of calling a heat treater for an anvil! I have a raw 510# anvil casting that I figured was a boat anchor since it wasn't heat treated (assuming it's steel and not cast iron..it sparks like steel). I wonder what it would cost to get it done....Now you've got me thinking!

As for testing, I think I was told about 1 1/4" square about a 1/8" thick would suffice. I know that Mete, Kevin, or Matt will probably pipe up and confirm for me.

-d
 
Call around to scrap metal yards.
One of them may have a spectrometer around for checking alloy content.
 
You can have alloy content tested for as little as $50. Search for Stork Materials Testing. I'm not sure where you are, but they have several labs. I have used them for years. Be advised that there are rentable pieces of equipment that will tell you alloy content, to a certain extent. The biggest issue I've run across with the Positive Material Identification (PMI) rented equipment is that elements with low atomic numbers (like carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) dont register.
 
I would be willing to test it for you but I would also be inclined to listen to METE and just hardface it. Quite easy to do if you have, or anyone you know has any welding talent. If you decide to have it tested I would need a piece at very minimum of 1" square and 1/8" thick. Email if interested. 100$ seems like a lot of money to me but then again I never had an anvil HT'd and I'm just flat out cheap!:D
 
anyone have a product number for appropriate hardfacing rods? I checked at 3 local welding supply stores and only one kept any in stock for a specific customer-but those were 60 Rc as welded.
 
Nice post, I am also interested in the hardfacing treatment. I can do the build-up welding myself, no problem there. My anvil is a very old William Foster 136 pounder. Just a little worried about welding on that old thing, it has a sort of a groove worn in the face where someone must have done something repetitive. Just use a good hardfacing rod and have at it, or will preheat be in order??? Also, if one were careful, could the built-up face be trued up with a hollow-center abrasive grinding disc, followed up with hand filing?? Thanks, 47 Knuck
 
mdoyle, thank you for the offer. If I pursue this I can cut some steel off of one of the feet.

There are a couple of issues with hardfacing for me. 1) I don't have equipment and I suck at it 2) to get best results I would still want to know what I was welding to 3) I would need to preheat this monster 4) hardfacing rods aren't cheap, and the research I have done recommends 2 types and a total of 3 layers.

I will keep you all updated with what comes of this. maybe it will help someone else in the future.

Thanks to all who have responded.

Steve
 
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