SKS5 and a tourch

[walter will]

I have some SKS5 saw steel and have a friend that has cut me out some blanks on a plasma cutter.He is not able to cut any right now,i was wondering if it would cause me any problems if i cut some out with a tourch.I know there will be a lot of extra grinding.I am very much a newbie,just would like to know what effects it will have on the steel.

Thanks,Walter

 

[David Wesner]

Hi Walter I can't say that I have ever heard of the steel you mention. FWIW though, a plasma cutter or torch will create what is known as a heat affected zone or HAZ. Leave some extra material around the perimeter so that you can grind it off to get rid of the HAZ and you should be fine. Great Lakes Water Jet who is a poster here on BladeForums can cut a blank for you without creating a HAZ (using water jet of course ). I'm not 100% sure about the HAZ using a laser so I can't comment on that. Anyone know

 

[walter will]

I,unlike you do not know much about steel,but was told by the company that sells us the saws that it was SKS5.I called the manufacture and was told that he could not tell me the exact makeup but that it was the same as 74Nicr2.I am not real sure.

Thanks for the reply,

Walter

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Here are the chemical properties of SKS5:


C 0.75-0.85, Si ≤0.35, Mn ≤0.50, P ≤0.030, S ≤0.030, Cu ≤0.25, Ni 0.70-1.30, Cr 0.20-0.50.

 

[SteelSlaver]

Should work good for blades. Enough carbon. a touch of nickel for tough and chrome. The dab of manganese should help it harden well. If it isn't to thick you could cut it with a thin wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder and be better off I think.