Steel testing

[sharppics]

First post here! Ive been reading the forums off and on for several months. I just started my first build out of a saw blade. It was free as I work in a sawmill. Can anyone tell me where to get steel tested and identified? Also, about how much does testing cost? Ive got an unlimited supply of blades that have been damaged but are still usable for knife blanks. I plan on practicing on this free stuff until Im skilled enough to purchase better stock. But I would still like to know what I have. Thanks in advance for any info you guys can provide.

 

[Frank Niro]

It seems to me if you go to the filers in the mill, they can tell you or get you the make up of the steel. Some of the blades are actually marked, by the way. There are a few different makers of these blades and no easy way to decide the makeup. Getting someone qualified to test can be expensive. Frank

 

[Grayzer86]

I would suggest finding out who your mill gets the blades from and contacting them to ask. Probably the easiest way, and it will be free.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The above info is good. I will add that if the blade is a modern one, it likely isn't knife steel.
A 48" bar of 1084 from Aldo is really cheap...and you know what it is and how to HT it.

 

[Hawk45]

I'll second what Bladesmith said. When I started I tried some unknown steels to be on the cheap.. it was a waste of time and materials. A good piece of carbon steel is cheap (like $30 for a 4ft piece cheap) and you will have something good when you are don

 

[me2]

If the purchase records for the steel dont tell what it is, you can have a piece tesred for about $50. Many labs will do it, but finding one if you dont lnow where to look is tricky.