Leaf spring composition?

Steven Roos

Steven Roos

Joined
Jun 29, 2002
Messages
4,131
Most of the HI khukruis are made from leaf springs, right? I've also heard that they are 5160. How can you tell what the leaf spring is composed of? Are all leaf springs 5160 or are there different materials used?
 
I believe that 1095 is also used in some leaf springs. I don't have my steel chart right now but if you like I could find the elements the steel is made up of.
 
Dunno how the owner of a knife can tell without getting some sort of analysis on a chunk.

It's my understanding that the guys who make the knives tell by being quite particular about which salvaged leaf springs they acquire. As I recall Mercedes truck springs are the favorite.

If the vehicle manufacturers have switched to another steel but those new springs haven't made it to the salvage yard, things could get complicated down the road unless the new springs differ in appearance.

Perhaps a couple of non-5160 springs slipping in could partially account for the rare and sporadic appearance of a few khuks with improperly hardened edges??
 
Somone should email Mercedes Benz and ask about leaf spring compositionn;)

Keith

p.s. I think that a skilled kami could temper almost any sort of carbon-rich iron or steel. The failures could be due to source steel, but more likely it is an issue of heat treat.
 
From what I have heard, most spring steel is in the 0.6 to 0.8% carbon range, because it tends to be too brittle above these levels. This is why 01 isn't generally used for large chopping blades.

As far as identifying an old spring is concerned, I have heard that 5160 gives a characteristic bright yellow spark when you try and grind it. I tried this on a lorry spring I have, and it did seem to be more yellow than the other tool steel I tried.

I hope this is of help.
 
p.s. I think that a skilled kami could temper almost any sort of carbon-rich iron or steel. The failures could be due to source steel, but more likely it is an issue of heat treat.
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On the first or second try of a different steel?

Or while thinking/expecting it was the same steel he'd been using for a very long time but it wasn't?

I'm sure that they could learn to temper most simple carbon steels, but I don't know if I believe that they've acquired an intuition so refined that they automatically can determine the best amount of water and timing for any new steel that they encounter at the first try. Some may have, but I'd expect them to be rare. If a couple of billets of an unfamiliar steel show up in what is expected to be a consistent batch in a production environment, I'd think the result could easily be less than desired when the odd steel shows up.

Of course, I don't know much of anything, just writing what makes sense to me.
 
The reason I ask is because I'm getting some leaf springs from a friend and I want to know what they might be made of...I'd be very glad if they were 5160. :)

BTW, I'm pretty sure they are from a Chevy pickup truck.

I'll have to try the spark idea and see what color I get...
 
Dont quote me on this, but I could have sworn I saw somewhere that Chevy leaf spring are 5160.

As for the spark test, good welders can tell you everything about a steel just by the sparks it gives off, but too me they all look the same. Then again I heard the spark test has more to do with carbon content than any specific alloy content.

Hmmm...I guess this hasnt been very helpful:(
 
I'm not enough of a metalurgist to comment but I know the kamis won't touch the springs from the Indian Tatas.
 
Originally posted by Federico
Dont quote me on this, but I could have sworn I saw somewhere that Chevy leaf spring are 5160.
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Well, that is just what I wanted to hear! :D

I still don't have them, so I can't test anything yet...:(
 
Hey Steven, are you going to be forging or grinding? After the move and I can get some springs, I'm going to play around with forging.:)
 
Originally posted by firkin


Perhaps a couple of non-5160 springs slipping in could partially account for the rare and sporadic appearance of a few khuks with improperly hardened edges??
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According to this company,Kentucky Electric Steel Inc. alloy steel grades, for springs, are becoming a whole new ball game.

http://www.kentuckyelectricsteel.com/products/markets.html

Click on "Grades" for a mystifying chart (for us non-tecnical types). ;-):confused:
 
Click on "Grades" for a mystifying chart (for us non-tecnical types). ;-)
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AISA or SAE No. is the type of steel, like 5160 or 1095

C is the carbon content

Ni is the nickel content (small amounts toughens the steel)

Cr is chromium content (used to know what amount was bad, but anyways large amounts of chromium is what makes stainless, stainless. In small amounts it toughens the steel making it harder, in larger amounts as found it stainless steels, it makes the steel brittle).

Dunno what the Mn and Mo stand for.

Anyways thanks for the chart.
 
Originally posted by Federico
AISA or SAE No. is the type of steel, like 5160 or 1095

Dunno what the Mn and Mo stand for.

Anyways thanks for the chart.
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Manganese and mollybedamned.:)

Mollybedamned is the easy way to say and spell an impossible word.:D
 
Originally posted by wildmanh
Hey Steven, are you going to be forging or grinding? After the move and I can get some springs, I'm going to play around with forging.:)
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I'm not sure...I wanted practice grinding, so I figured I would stock remove some pieces. However, I wonder how they would hold up because they have been under so much stress. I'm sure I'll try forging some pieces too...
 
So do steels with the amazing mollybedamned alloy need special heat treat requirements?:D
 
Originally posted by Federico
So do steels with the amazing mollybedamned alloy need special heat treat requirements?:D
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Yea, you swear up a storm when you you quench! :eek:

:p
 
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