I just went to the salvage yard today...

Phillip Patton · Mar 24, 2006

...and picked up 120 pounds each of CPM M4 and CPM Rex T15. It's in the form of some sort of mill bit. They're 1 3/4" diameter and 32" long. Each one weighs 20 pounds. I looked up the data sheets on Crucibles website and they both look like killer steels. Anybody have any experience with them?
I'd post a picture but, naturally, it's not letting me.
Also got some roller chain for making chain damascus (someday).

M Wadel · Mar 24, 2006

i think m4 will be killer for a folder, it cuts other metals very good atleast

DAMNENG · Mar 24, 2006

Phillip Patton said:
...and picked up 120 pounds each of CPM M4 and CPM Rex T15. It's in the form of some sort of mill bit. They're 1 3/4" diameter and 32" long. Each one weighs 20 pounds. I looked up the data sheets on Crucibles website and they both look like killer steels. Anybody have any experience with them?
I'd post a picture but, naturally, it's not letting me.
Also got some roller chain for making chain damascus (someday).

Phill

Be careful about using large bits. I have heard stories of some of them having hollow sections or sections filled with sodium which could present an explosion hazzard when stuck in a forge.

Good luck.

Jim Arbuckle

Phillip Patton · Mar 24, 2006

DAMNENG said:
Phill

Be careful about using large bits. I have heard stories of some of them having hollow sections or sections filled with sodium which could present an explosion hazzard when stuck in a forge.

Good luck.

Jim Arbuckle

Thanks for warning me, I'll be careful. Why would they put sodium in these things?

mete · Mar 24, 2006

I've had sodium cooled exhaust valves on a car but never heard of it for anything else.I does conduct heat well and does keep the valve cooler.

butcher_block · Mar 25, 2006

wow i wish i could find some thing like that good pull
let me know what your plan is with that stuff i can mill /saw that down if need be
other then that sounds like fun
forging might be a different story not saying i woulnt trry to do it let me know
butch

Phillip Patton · Mar 25, 2006

These things are quite solid, so I don't think sodium is an issue. I'll be cutting them in half to fit in my oven for annealing, so we'll see then.
Butch, I know how you feel. Awhile back someone here on BF found a bunch of tool steel rounds in a scrap yard. I was green with envy. This stuff makes me happy though.

I just wish I didn't have to grind the teeth off.
Depending on how it goes forging this stuff, I might be willing to sell some pieces of it to anyone interested. I'll let you know.

Raymond Richard · Mar 25, 2006

Don't know nothing about either steel. They could be a real bear to forge. Have fun and let us know how things go.