Question about steel I have

[johnggrg]

A few years ago a friend of mine worked at a steel supply place. I had asked if there was any scraps he could get. He gave me two bars 36 inches long by 3 1/2 wide 1/4 thick. I asked what kind of steal it was and he had said he picked it up on the tool steal side and thought the # was 1186 but he can't remember it's coated in blue paint on one side with yellow numbers on it. He said the yellow numbers don't mean anything. So any thoughts about the number? Does it sound right or maybe it was 1086? Any help would be apreciated. Thank you. John

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Run your mouse over both bars and I'll try and figure its carbon content out

Just kidding. There is no way anyone sitting at their keyboard can tell you what you have. There are some shop tests that can give you a hint if it might be usable, but still won't tell you what you have. Cutting a 1" slice off the end and having it analyzed will tell you exactly what you have, but then it won't end up being free. Since you have a good bit of it, I would go with an analysis. Metaltest is a good assay source.

I would say that if there is any chance it is an 1100 series steel, don't use it.1100 steels don't go to .86 carbon (no such thing as 1186, as far as I know), but there is an 1146, which is too low in carbon content for knives.

Stacy

 

[johnggrg]

I liked the comment on the mouse that was funny. I was just wondering if the numbers he gave me sounded right. That was what I wanted to find out. No such thing as 1186 so that's out. Like I said he wasn't sure but that is what he thought it was. I was wondering if he had the numbers off and it might be really 1086? But I don't know if that is right either. How much does it cost to test a metal sample from Metaltest Inc.? John