Metal question

M

Metalaxe

Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
3
Newbie here with a question.

I recently picked up some bearings at work. They came out of the shaker(a machine we use to crush glass)Anyways,i got like 20 of these cylinder bearings and the round roatating case that they roll around in. Im just wondering if it's a good chance they are high carbon steel?

Never made knives before,but am itching to start.:thumbup:
 
they are very likely to be high carbon, but may be simply casehardened (some are made this way)
 
Would i still be able to use proper techniques to forge these bearings if they are casehardened? Also. Is there a way i can forge/blend these together to make a bigger bar to start? Advice is appriciated. Thanks
 
The simple test to determine if they are indeed hi-carbon steel is as follows: forge one out into a bar, heat it to nonmagnetic and quickly quench it in water or oil, next put one end in the vice and bend it, if it breaks off it has enough carbon to make a knife, if it just bends toss it in the trash. This test works for all recycled steels.

They can be forge welded together to make a bigger bar.
 
Check the 'Knife Makers Gallery' a posting by Salaverria 'Forgeplaying' He's VERY skilled ! Bearings are typically 52100 or a case hardening grade such as 4320 or 4620.
 
Interesting and very good to witness two of my heroes agian and both in the same thread (Bruce and Mete). Mete: I am KD8BZY if you ever hear me on 80, 40, and 20. I am DX chasing so 20 daytime and 40 late and early and ONLY CW on all.

Anyhow, and not knowing better, my guess is I ain't afraid of making a blade of it but would most certainly do a series of HT runs on scrap samples to learn the HT before doing the actual forging. Other than that, and again not knowing better before the HT runs, I would pretty much have confidence in a good or better blade arriving from the end result. I base this on the presumed fact it is a bearing alloy.

RL
 
or you could look for a number on the bearing race,
something like Timken with the number and call a bearing supplier and ask them for the specs on that bearing :)
 
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