is this a leaf spring

T

thedirector93

Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
66
i found this on the road a few weeks ago, its a little more then 30 inches. im not gonna make anything with it until i finish my other knives, but i just want to know if i should keep it or not. if the image doesn't appear then click this link http://tek26007.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/is-this-a-leaf-spring/

is-this-a-leaf-spring
 
it has an small arch shape similar to leaf springs but i dont know much about them so i just want someone who knows something to look at it
 
You could cut off a piece, HT it , and see if it hardens well.
When you photograph something please remove or cover all extraneous stuff in the background . It will be less confusing.
 
Something to consider, that leaf spring broke off for a reason. It's probably full of micro cracks and would break if made into a knife. For example, the right side of your picture there appears to be a lot of pitting or a void in the steel. I'm not sure if forging the piece could make it stronger, or get rid of micro cracks. Others may have that answer.
 
shane_o_ca said:
Something to consider, that leaf spring broke off for a reason. It's probably full of micro cracks and would break if made into a knife. For example, the right side of your picture there appears to be a lot of pitting or a void in the steel. I'm not sure if forging the piece could make it stronger, or get rid of micro cracks. Others may have that answer.
Click to expand...

I asked a similar question when I first started on the forum and the answer was NO. The forging heat is not hot enough to weld up the cracks. So you are taking a chance, certainly with a hard use knife or cold cut. But a lot less strain is put on a skinner for example.
 
mete said:
You could cut off a piece, HT it , and see if it hardens well.
When you photograph something please remove or cover all extraneous stuff in the background . It will be less confusing.
Click to expand...

I think it's just a dirty cement floor, but good advice.

Props in photos don't ususlly add much.

thedirector93 said:
i found this on the road a few weeks ago, its a little more then 30 inches. im not gonna make anything with it until i finish my other knives, but i just want to know if i should keep it or not. if the image doesn't appear then click this link http://tek26007.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/is-this-a-leaf-spring/

is-this-a-leaf-spring
Click to expand...

0311141125.jpg



I'd keep it it's ten cents per pound
 
I'd say no. Leaf springs are assembled With a pin at the center and clamps toward the ends. That means only one hole. I think what you've got there is a fuel tank strap or something that fell off a rig. How thick is it?
 
Overload springs don't always have a pin hole in the center and have bumpers on the ends through small holes. But, I also think probably tank strap that's been run over...For several reasons. If it isn't about 1/4" thick, and ain't springy (flip it over and bounce on it) it isn't a spring.

At any rate, even if it is a spring, it's still a hunk of mystery steel. And full of stress fractures...

-Eric

-Eric
 
"When you photograph something please remove or cover all extraneous stuff in the background . It will be less confusing."

It's a dirty shop floor. Not at all confusing.
 
That was a general comment --to all . When I look south all I can see is the Pocono Mtns -it's confusing !
 
I believe that piece of metal is part of a battle ready katana that failed in use. It should be taken out into a field and buried with respect. Burry it deep so no one disturbs it again.
 
I forged 6 knives from some 35 year old Chevy springs a while back, pounding them from 3/8 down to 3/16ish and i'll be damned if every one of them didn't warp back to the original arc of the spring during the quench, I used the proper quench method, warmed the oil to 130 degrees lowered the knife in the oil sharp edged down with no side to side motion, I figured that spring steel must have a memory to some degree

That's definitely an overload spring with holes in the ends and not in the middle

I also normalized the steel too ;0)
 
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