What type of steel is this?

[BustaCrook]

I've been using a bunch of blanks that I cut from a 2' diamater saw mill blade, which by the way, is somewhere around 15-20 years old. Since I really have no clue, does anyone know what type of steel these blades were generally made from?

So far, my HT and quenching hasn't been too bad but I would definitely like to improve it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris

 

[Deweyknives]

Mystery steel. You have three choices.........

Send a piece to be analyzed

Keep guessing

Buy some known steel

 

[BustaCrook]

Thanks Randy. I just decided to let Google take over and from what I can muster, L6 is probably the high candidate. I think I'll reserve this lot I have for some large whackers and get myself some better steel that is a little easier to work with.

 

[Deweyknives]

If it has tooth inserts, it's a lesser quality steel.

If it's good steel, I'd guess it could be 15n20, 1070, or maybe L6. I had a large one [52"] tested and it was 15n20. Without analysis, you just do'nt know.

 

[Kentucky]

A lot of the larger saw blades end up being 1070 or 1080 + 2% nickle. I wouldent hold my breath on L6, its a lot more rare in saw blades than most folks think.
Here is one set of test results I saw..
AL .002
B.0004
C .764
CB.008
CO .024
CR .264
CU .475
FE 95.315
MN .367
MO .045
NI 2.325
P .010
PB .009
S .007
SE .000
SI .309
SN .0345
TA 0.000
TI .003
V .018
W .018
Z.0001
Heres another.See how much difference.
........................
Carbon - 0.93
Silicon - 0.214
Manganese - 0.294
Phosphorus - 0.017
Sulphur - 0.033
Chromium - 0.051
Molybdenum - 0.031
Nickel - 0.062
Aluminium - 0.008
Cobalt - 0.035
Copper - 0.033
Niobium - <0.005
Titanium - 0.001
Vanadium - 0.054
Tungsten - 0.054
Lead - 0.023
Tin - 0.005
Arsenic - 0.013
Zirconium - <0.003
Boron - 0.001
Iron - 98.2

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Actually, the chances of it being L-6 are slim.

There is god news:
I now have an IXRF gun (internet X-Ray Fluorescence gun). If you will take a good closeup photo of the knife blank, I can point the IXRF gun at the image on my screen and analyze it for you. The blank needs to be sanded to 400 grit and be absolutely clean. Don't touch it with your fingers after cleaning, or I will read the chemicals on your hands as alloy ingredients.

Unfortunately, until I get the photo, the best guess I can make is mystery steel.

 

[me2]

Actually, the chances of it being L-6 are slim.

There is god news:
I now have an IXRF gun (internet X-Ray Fluorescence gun). If you will take a good closeup photo of the knife blank, I can point the IXRF gun at the image on my screen and analyze it for you. The blank needs to be sanded to 400 grit and be absolutely clean. Don't touch it with your fingers after cleaning, or I will read the chemicals on your hands as alloy ingredients.

Unfortunately, until I get the photo, the best guess I can make is mystery steel.

Dont let this out, or you'll become immensly wealthy despite your best efforts.