What kind of steel do I have?

tito

tito

Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
670
I bought a very nice piece of damascus steel barstock 3 years ago, but didn't mark it. After a move, I've now forgotten whether it was stainless damascus or Thunderforged. I sanded on it some and etched it in PCL, but I'm not quite convinced. Are there any good ways to figure it out? Thanks in advance for any help.

Almost forgot - I also dipped the end in water and left it overnight - it rusted some, but not as much as I was expecting.
 
Some stainless are non magnetic... you could try this.
If it's non-mag, it's stainless, but if it's mag, it could be both.
Etching with ferric cloride could be a way of telling: SS doesn't etch so well.
You could clean it with acetone, to make sure that there's not a drop of oil protecting the steel, and spray it with water (not immerse).
And leave it for the night.
If it's stainless it may have some discoloration, nothing more.
If not, it will be nicely rusted.
Other methods, short of having a bit examined by a lab, I don't know.:confused:
 
I tried etching in ferric, but wasn't sure. I tried water again, and it started turning within 15min. I had a scrap piece of ss dam, un-hardened, and it hasn't turned yet. I'm pretty sure the piece I have isn't ss. Thanks...
 
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