Is there a decent market in laminated steel and what are good combinations of steel?

Dan Seaver

Dan Seaver

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
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Hello. I have been toying with the idea of converting a 30 ton log splitter into a hydraulic press. I make small amounts of homemade steel and some laminated steel; a press would greatly increase my ability to work with these steels. My problem is I can not spend that much money on a press unless I sell some of the steel I make because I don't finish many of my knives. I have done some searching but I have only found limited information on steel combinations.
Are other makers interested in laminated mono steels?
What are good combinations for 5160? I have 110 pounds left to use up.

Some of the combinations I'm thinking of using are 10xx/15n20, 5160/15n20, O1/10xx, 5160/O1, and W1/10xx. Do you see any that would be inadvisable to use? *10xx represents 1050, 1084, and 1095*

Thanks for your help
-Dan
 
15N20 is a pretty good choice for outside layers in a three layer laminate because it is fairly high in carbon for minimal carbon migration and maximum scratch resistance.
 
Lot's of steel being sold on ebay...Good place to start and see what is selling and also to get your name out.

Bruce
 
You might want to make the steel up and then have someone waterjet blanks out for sale either to suppliers or on ebay.

Will
formerly known as badbamaump
 
Tell you what, if you can do the fancy metallurgical footwork to laminate stainless outer layers on that 5160 core, you'll have buyers knocking down your door!
 
MSCantrell said:
Tell you what, if you can do the fancy metallurgical footwork to laminate stainless outer layers on that 5160 core, you'll have buyers knocking down your door!
Click to expand...

I better have a long talk with Mete and quite a bit more experience before I even attempt that. I have seen stainless damascus but never stainless laminated with a carbon steel, is this possible? High explosive welding could achieve these results but would be unbelievably expensive.

Thanks for the ideas, I think I will start with 5160/15n20 and simpler patterns.
 
You'll find that 1084/15N20 will give a better contrast than the 5160 will. Converted log splitters make fine presses for what you want to do.

Good luck.

Gene
 
That is what I have heard, I'm planning on ordering some 1084 and/or 1095 once I have more money. I'm doing some research on steels with similar heat treatments and forging heats that will have decent contrast. I have looked in some of my books and online but have not seen the heat treatment information for 15n20 yet, could somebody please point me in the correct direction?

Thanks
-Dan
 
Just a quick note after looking over the thread, I am doing metallography work right now on a blade by Burt Foster that is W2 clad in 416 Stainless. Burt is a very talented smith and has been doing san mai with stainless and carbon for a while now. The sample I have been working with is absolutely fascinating under the microscope. The structures at the weld interface are spectacular, and Burt has agreed to let me use the images in my presentations as the most striking examples of carbon diffusion between welded layers I have ever seen. The low carbon stainless literally sucks the carbon right out of the W2 as fast as it can leaving a wide band of almost pure ferrite in the high carbon steel. Since Burt used W2 and nailed the heat treatment dead on the blade was still incredibly hard all the way through the core, capable of holding a scary edge with the sides being quite soft and corrosion free, with the exception of that narrow zone of carburized stainless. However I would worry about using a lower carbon steel such as 5160 for such a mix after seeing how much carbon it will have to share.

Stacy, many people do indeed commonly call 15n20 L6, but this is a common error as they are two very distinct alloys that should not be confused when heat treating or serious complications could result.
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
Just a quick note after looking over the thread, I am doing metallography work right now on a blade by Burt Foster that is W2 clad in 416 Stainless. Burt is a very talented smith and has been doing san mai with stainless and carbon for a while now. The sample I have been working with is absolutely fascinating under the microscope. The structures at the weld interface are spectacular, and Burt has agreed to let me use the images in my presentations as the most striking examples of carbon diffusion between welded layers I have ever seen. The low carbon stainless literally sucks the carbon right out of the W2 as fast as it can leaving a wide band of almost pure ferrite in the high carbon steel. Since Burt used W2 and nailed the heat treatment dead on the blade was still incredibly hard all the way through the core, capable of holding a scary edge with the sides being quite soft and corrosion free, with the exception of that narrow zone of carburized stainless. However I would worry about using a lower carbon steel such as 5160 for such a mix after seeing how much carbon it will have to share.

Stacy, many people do indeed commonly call 15n20 L6, but this is a common error as they are two very distinct alloys that should not be confused when heat treating or serious complications could result.
Click to expand...

I was waiting for someone to mention Burt! Kevin interesting thing about 15n20 being called L6, i have heard of plenty of sawblades that were found to be 15n20 instead of L6 maybe that is where that myth of "all sawblades are L6 "came from?
 
That transition is very interesting on his san-mai. I've never seen anything like that on stainless/carbon san-mai before.
 
Thanks for the information Kevin! This calls for more research into stainless steels for me.

I see that you once stated that 15n20 is basically 1075 but with added nickel, do you suggest a heat treatment similar to 1075?

Thanks again for all the information and help everyone. I really appreciate it.
-Dan
 
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