Is there such thing as forged L6 hawk/axe?

[JayGoliath]

Pardon me if such thread popped up before.

In past months i've read a lot of articles about the fame (and rare) L6 steel, including the tale of one that survived the abuse of punishing sub-zero temp and instantly became Inuit's favorite.

Probably the most distinct L6 blade is Howark Clark's L6 Bainite Katana.

I wonder if L6 is indeed such superior to an extent my local supplier called it Knife steel and almost impossible to order it as the original L6 is too rare.Opening up a can of worms about correct HT, selection of material and cost and MOST PROBABLY, far better steel out there to make axe than L6?

Asking for pointers here that if any makers actually made them in full tang axe?

Thanks

Jay

 

[Kentucky]

I have seen one for sure..We use L-6 for the welded in cutting bit all the time..Real L-6 is expensive, we paid $60 for a 4' bar of 1 1/2" x 5/16" to use as cutting bits. Its about $8-$9 a pound...I know where some 1" square L-6 is but I havent broke down to buy any of it yet. Enough of it for one hawk head would cost you close to $20..
Its incredibly tough stuff and will air harden to a good extent. Its the moly in it..
I know there are a few steels that are equal but they too would cost an arm and aleg just the same.
There are rumors that gransfors uses L-6 for its axes but thats just not true..They use 1050-1055, cigga posted the specs on gransfors steel here once before..

 

[JayGoliath]

Thanks Kentucky. Really appreciate your feedback.

My local supplier claimed old band saw as L6 but i see it more like 52100. In SEA, they called L6 as knife steel. It must a pretty darn hard stuff.
I know S7 is a crazy tough material but L6 is just something experimental.

 

[Chris John]

Hi JayGoliath .
Most of the big circular saw blades from the wood mills
are L6 not just the band saws very good tuff steel .
if you get one of those it would last you very long time
using it in cutting edges on hawks or axes
Chris.

 

[Kentucky]

jay, Im sorry but almost no saw blades are true L6..Ive saw the specs on too many..We had a long discussion about that over on Don's site..Most all circular saw blades are something akin to 1080+2% nickle or something like 8670M..Bandsaw material is usually something like 15n20..The steel in saw blades is often mistaken for L6 because of the nickle..Ive saw one spec sheet on a tested saw blade that came close to L6 and thats the only one..I even saw one that tested out to be about 1095..
Saw blades made from 8670M are very easily mistaken for L6, 8670m has small ammount of Moly but not as much as L6.Not as much nickle either .0.05-0.10 moly vs .30 moly..then .70n-1.0n vs 1.50 n..8670 also has a little less CR and MN than true L6.
Not saying none of its L6 but the vast majority is not..

Thanks Kentucky. Really appreciate your feedback.

My local supplier claimed old band saw as L6 but i see it more like 52100. In SEA, they called L6 as knife steel. It must a pretty darn hard stuff.
I know S7 is a crazy tough material but L6 is just something experimental.

 

[LexEdman]

Kentucky
A friend of mine has a sawmill and has several band saw blades, what steel would you say that would be?

 

[JasonSCarter]

Aldo carries L6 regularly. It is as expensive as previously said. here's a link to his store. it a work in progress though. best to email him your order for now.

http://njsteelbaron.com/index.php?p...ategory_id=13&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55


Jason

 

[Kentucky]

Most likely Uddenholm 15n20..

Kentucky
A friend of mine has a sawmill and has several band saw blades, what steel would you say that would be?

 

[Chris John]

All the real old blades were the new could be anything .
Chris

 

[omniviking]

I have heard that jack hammer bits were L-6 very tough. heat and beat, a LOT.

 

[Burke]

I have heard that jack hammer bits were L-6 very tough. heat and beat, a LOT.

I've always heard they were S-7, not L-6, although I suppose some could be.

 

[Aldo Bruno]

The point is you never really know unless you get it tested.

 

[Kentucky]

Exactly right... Bruner & Lay (largest manufacturer of demolition bits in the world) uses a 1045M. Vulcan now uses 15b40, something akin to 4340..Chipper steels are often 9260.
Right heres a jackhammer bit i happen to have spec's for..Its roughly 1045.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C: 0.42 | Mn: 0.70 | P: 0.005 | S: 0.02 | Si: 0.2 | Cu: 0.02 | Cr: 0.02 | Mo: 0.005 | Ni: 0.02 | Sn: 0.004 | V: 0.0 | Cb/NB: 0.002
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ive seen leaf spring that was 4140, 6150,5160,9260 and 1095(very old springs)..You never know what a steel is unless you have a metalurgical analysis ran..Thats just the way it is..
The only reason I post this is because I had to learn all this the hard way. Though many junkyard steels have similar heat treat many do not..

The point is you never really know unless you get it tested.

 

[JayGoliath]

Ive seen leaf spring that was 1045, 6150,5160,9260 and 1095(very old springs)..

Thanks for making this clear enough, Kentucky!
I always wonder if there's any other steel grade for leaf spring other than 5160 and 1095.