Steel question and a sander find

[osage outlaw]

I have some really old pick axes that I don't need. I was wondering if the steel in them would work for making some knives?

I recently picked up this home made 1x42 sander and 4 new belts at an estate auction for $10. The top wheel needs adjusted over a little bit. I did some test grinding and it works better than the 1x30 I have been using.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No telling the alloy on the pickaxe heads. They range from iron to steel, and there is a lot of variation along the way.

You could do a spark test, and if it indicates a carbon steel, forge two pieces out to 1/8" X1" flat and do quench tests. Quench in piece in oil and another in water. Test the as-quenched hardness with a file, then try to snap them in a vise. The results will give you a rough idea what it could be. Ifit oil hardens, treat as 1080. If it only water hardens, treat as 1095. That is probably as close as you can get without an analysis.