Unknown steels

[David Stifle]

I know, I know, don't waste your time on unknown steels. I've said it myself. With that out of the way, though, I have some springs from a John Deere tractor I might try. Hoping someone might shed some light on the type of steel it may be, or give me a method to figure it out. I've never really got that whole read the sparks thing. I can post pictures if it would help.

 

[Winegums]

More than likely it's a simple high carbon spring steel that will have a great deal of stresses built up inside from rough the life of the vehicle. I've seen some old springs fall apart when forging or in the forge as it has so much fatigue build up. Use at your own risk, (of wasting time).

Simple heat treat testing will let you know if it's any good for a blade. Quench in oil, file test, if hard temper. If not hard quench in water, file test, if hard temper. If it doesn't harden in water, I would toss it in the scrap pile. Testing the temper will require forging a section of steel the same as a typical blade you intend to make and seeing if it has the properties you desire. Too hard, raise the tempering temperature, too soft, lower the temperature.

 

[nickandersonart]

With unknown steel like these that could have inherent stresses and micro-cracking throughout, would it not be a good idea to just heavily flux the piece, bring to a forge welding heat and try to forge out whatever microcracking was present in the metal?