Types of mild steel to use

[benoseien98]

I'd like to find mild steel for a Damascus. But I would like to find it off some types of machinery or something like that. Any ideas of household items or farm equipment that you use for mild steel with a Damascus?

 

[shinyedges]

Mild steel will rust easily and be incapable of getting to useful knife hardness. If just for practice, ok.

As far as locating mild steel, if you have farm equipment that you want to scrap, it should be easy to find. The thicker steel on implements like bush hogs, discs, and so forth is mild steel.

Older truck leaf springs are 5160 or close to it. So more carbon and hardenability and a better material all around.

Also if you just want to beat some steel you can get cheap angle iron at home improvement stores.

 

[Wild Willie]

Could always swing by your auto mechanic's shop and ask them to set aside some old wheel bearings too. Mine always has a bunch sitting on the bench for me, and if he doesn't I just wander around and pick them up off the floor.

Still need to get some powdered 1084 and try my hand at a cylinder, but I have plenty of ammo for my slingshot in the meantime.

 

[bdmicarta]

If you are making a blade, as already mentioned mild steel won't harden enough for this. However if you are making fittings such as guards or pommels then mild steel would be OK.

 

[polish avenger]

Mild steel as a cladding for san mai is fine....stay away from inclusion in pattern welding recipes.