Saw blade steel?

[spidersbane]

I was reading something the other day about using a round saw blade for a knife. It said that if the tips were a different material then it would not be good steel, but otherwise it should do ok. My question is this: How do you tell if it is good or not? And how do you unharden it? It is an old blade, and doesnt look like the teeth are tipped with anything. Thanks for any help!

 

[mikeS]

Well, saw blade OSB can be a number of different steels.

To test junkyard steel heat a piece to non-mag. quench in water and smack with a hammer. if it breaks, glass like, it is hardenable steel.

To anneal heat to non-mag and bury it in lime,woodash or vermiculite.

let it cool in the ashes probably 24 hours or so.

medium carbon steels are used with brazed on carbide teeth.

In the annealed state you should be able to cut the profile with a good cold chisel.

 

[mikeS]

Spider, email me at irnsweany@juno.com