rough cut with an angle grinder

I

itrade

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Jul 3, 2002
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I'm working on some large blades in S30V 2"x8". The steel still has the foundry scale on it. Just getting the scale off toasted one expensive belt. So I've ordered a 7" angle grinder to do the rest of them.

Does anyone else use these to start on a blade? Or even to just remove scale?

Steve
 
Almost every guy who forges will have an angle grinder around for rough grinding to remove scale, etc. It can be problematic at first, cuz you can gouge your steel easily and quickly ruin a potential blade. After a short while, though, you will get your technique down and have a lighter, more accurate touch. If mine broke today, I'd be at Home Depot within the hour. :)
A must for cleanup in welding operations, too.

Another thing you can do, too, is soak the bladestock in vinegar overnight to remove the oxide portion of the millscale. Helps a bit.
I got so tired of removing that .010" or so on each side of the stock that I eventually bought a surface grinder. Remember with S30V, it comes oversized, and is specifically meant to be surfaced down to finished dimension in order to get through the crap layer on the outside. Failure to remove all of it can result in a pitted surface. In other words, if you bought 3/16" stock, strip the surface off until it's actually .187" or less thick.

I've read of some guys doing most of the blade grinding with an angle grinder, then finishing with files, then paper. I'm way too lazy for that. :D
 
just remember.............you want to end up with a FLAT surface.

Getting uneven grinder marks out will be harder than getting the scale off. :(
 
The cheap and easy way to remove mill scale is to pickle your stock.

To pickle just soak it in 20% HCl until the scale is removed (a few minutes to an hour depending on the thickness of the scale).

Vinegar (6%) will also work; it will take about 5 to 10 hours.

Remember to rinse and dry the steel after it is pickled.
 
Originally posted by nhamilto40
The cheap and easy way to remove mill scale is to pickle your stock.

To pickle just soak it in 20% HCl until the scale is removed (a few minutes to an hour depending on the thickness of the scale).

Vinegar (6%) will also work; it will take about 5 to 10 hours.

Remember to rinse and dry the steel after it is pickled.
Click to expand...


What is HCl? :confused: I'm guessing hydrochloric acid, but am not sure.
 
HCl is hydrochloric acid. It is commonly sold in hardware stores as "muriatic acid", usually at about 30%.
 
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