Spark Test pictures needed

[Atlas Knife Company]

Does anyone have pictures of sparks of the various knifemaker steels?

 

[Frank Niro]

Those wouldn't tell you much . It might work for a very experienced maker if only working with one or two steels but not much else. Frank

 

[beaster456]

I agree with Frank, spark test would really only tell you the rough amount of carbon content, and by rough I mean its either mild steel or high carbon

 

[mete]

If you want to ID a steel you have to have a standard to compare HT'd the same way . otherwise it's a rough estimate of carbon and a few other elements.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The "Spark Test" is an old hold out from earlier blacksmithing/machinist days. Back then the steels were simpler and the variety much less. It would tell high carbon from low carbon, and alloy steel from plain steel .... not much more ..... but that was all they wanted to know.

 

[69_knives]

There are some pics in this thread of some spark tests I did a few years ago. Take from them what you will.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/703117-Can-you-tell-by-the-spark/page2

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Thanks to 69_Knives! Just what I was hoping for. I really just needed to tell 1080 from Mild, a bunch got mixed together, but this will work.

W2 from Don Hanson:

O-1 Soft:

O-1 Hard:

1084 bar HR as rolled, from admiral:

1084 hardened:

1095 bar as rolled:

1095 bar hardened:

52100 annealed round bar:

52100 Hardened:

more to come...

CruForge V Bar as rolled: I took this shot twice and both were the same...

CruForge V Hardened:

1962 Ford Galaxie Leaf spring:

Circular Saw Blade (hardenable):

M42 End Mill:

Hss Drill bit:

Fence Post:

Bed Frame:

Cheap Chinese File - I ground quite a bit away before taking the pic, to see if it was just carburized or case hardened.

Rebar:

 

[Wolf_HR]

If you want to ID a steel you have to have a standard to compare HT'd the same way . otherwise it's a rough estimate of carbon and a few other elements.

I was always intrigued by this... All I could find is the info I'm posting: