What about old brake drums?

Joined
May 18, 1999
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This may be better addressed to the Neo-Tribal guys but,......

I have been wondering for some time if the brake drums found on the old cars, '40's-'60's (perhaps later years as well?), are of some type of cast iron?

And I wonder if anyone has ever tried to forge the stuff?

If it could be forged I would think it would be rather tough and might make some primitive style 'hawks with some 5160 or something similar forged into it for an edge.

Anyone know or think it's possible?
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Yvsa, who absolutely has too much time on his hands.
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Cast iron doesnt have the elements neccesary to make a good knife blade, A brake drum wont fit through the door of my forge anyway. Bruce
 
Wouldn't you have to worry about imbedded asbestos fibers in the steel???

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Take care!! Michael
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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
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Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
They are cast iron and will crumble in the forge and if you try to weld with it it will start sparking and melt down or splatter all over the shop when you hit it at welding heat.
Cleston Synyard (?) used to mix the shavings from the brack drums into his flux to add carbon to the mix and it will also help in getting things to stick together sometimes.
Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society
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