Mete, Why Does This 1075 Throw Sparkes Like a Dragon and The High Alloys I Use Don't?

R

rlinger

Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
4,591
Mete or anyone that can help explain this to me:

Is there something NOT in the 1075 that allows it or is there something IN the high alloys, such as S30V, ATS that minimizes it?

This is my first (and wonderful) experience grinding 1075. It Rockwelled almost twice what I am used to grinding high alloys at but by comparison grinds like butter. It throws sparks in high volume and pretty far too. This is new to me. In fact I often wondered if I was doing something wrong because my high alloys don't throw sparks or very seldom do.

The analysis or vendor trace I got from Terry Summers shows this batch has 0.72% carbon content.

Thanks.

RL
 
AWP,

Thanks for that. He writes well too. Yeap, it throws them just about as he illustrates 0.8% carbon content carbon steel does. He still does not explain my wondering. That is, what is keeping my high alloys from doing this.

RL
 
The sparks are influenced by the chemical composition . But both spark amount and shape and spark color are important . Tungstun for example throws a deep orange spark , very distinctive.
 
I believe the high chrome content is the primary reason that the stainless alloys do not give off a large amount of sparks like the simple steels do.
 
Titanium throws the brightest and prettiest sparks, up until it ignites the metal dust pile on my table, then it's really pretty.
Senior Linger, I'm looking for some 1075 that about 3/8th's to 1/2" wide, and maybe 1/4 to 3/8th" think. Does your source carry anything like that?
 
Beo. is right , it's the chrome content and it dosn't take much.

rhrocker, check your MSC catalog, I have bought w1 in square stock from 1/8'' up to 1''. They may have 1075 in that size listed under spring steel. If you can not find any let me know and I could possibly forge some down from larger stock for you.

Don Hanson
 
Robert, ask for Terry Summers when you call Admiral Steel. They have it in those thicknesses (maybe not 3/8th) but you may have to cut it to the width you want.

RL
 
Thanks Don, will check it out. Hope the wife is doing ok, I enjoyed working with her on Ebay. Actually, I have 2 power hamers, one 100 lb. LG, and a Blu, so I could forge it down, may need to get with you on the larger stock though if You'd sell any.
RL I've checked with Admiral, didn't have what I needed. I'm wanting to steel the edge of a couple of composite twists, thought this is a good way to go.
 
Interesting sidebar to this question. The recent issue of "Field and Stream" had an article on survival knives. The author recommended using a carbon steel blade instead of stainless because it could be used as the "steel" as a flint-and-steel fire starter.
 
Droppoints,

Your writer at Field and Sream is mistaken. I have recently made a couple bushcraft knives of S30V, both of which have gone through extensive field testing - successfully in all aspects including fire steel striking. The spine of both blades were ground specifically for fire steel striking. Here is a review of the field testing performed by the owner: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302564

RL
 
Interesting that S30V will strike sparks like carbon steel. I wonder if it's the only specialty stainless that will do this or the author was wrong about other types too. How about 154CM/ATS34?
 
I would not hesitate at all in using ATS-34 or any of its realitves. It is in the wear resistance of the steel and the sharpness of the spine. The spine is not where the sparks come from. It is from the fire steel.

RL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top