junker Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 So I just got about a 12pound piece of stainless... how do I tell what the carbon content is? Do I spark it like with normal steel? Advice would be helpfull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 There is no way that I know of. I noticed when I worked in a mill that the brighter, more like new silver, the steel was the less carbon and the softer it was. This is not a sure indicator because there are some very hard alloys that have very little carbon in them an look silvery. If it is scrap then the best indicatory will be what it was used for previously. Personally, I wouldn't invest much time or effort in a piece of unknown stainless unless it was going in to a piece of sculpture. Certainly not the kind of effort it takes to make a knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junker Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 its just a piece of drop or something... idk really what it was, it's a good 12 ibs... ill post a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 the chance of it having more then 0,25% is veryvery low it is next to no used SS that has high carbon in it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 (edited) Cut a small piece off and heat to an orange and quench in water. Then CAREFULLY try to break it. If it shatters (EYE PROTECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) then it's a high carbon stainless. But as was mentioned---- very unlikely and if it is they generally need professional heat treating to get the best out of them. Edited July 31, 2009 by ThomasPowers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Do you have any idea what this piece was originally from ? Are those rust spots on it ? It is unlikely to be stainless unless it was from some type of industrial food manufacturing equipment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 If it is stainless, my guess is a 300 series as it has a dull appearance and rust spots. Stainless does not mean it won't rust, or that it is non-magnetic. It just means it has chromium in a certain range of percentages in it. Even passivised many stainless steels will have a dull appearance, but good overall corrosion tolerance. Use it for feet on a stand, drilled and threaded to be adjustable. Would make a good doorstop too. It's probably "mild" and not hardenable. Stainless is typically harder than mild, but tends to not get much harder. Since it is hex stock it probably was intended for a supporting part and not a cutting device or a machined shaft. I tried turning some cuff links out of 300 series stainless, came out like *%$#. I was inspired by some I saw in silver. Looked sorta ok at first, but became quite dull in appearance. Very difficult to cut clean threads in due to its hardness. Tapping went a little better, but not very good. The surface finish was lacking too. A friend used the rest of the bar to make some pommels for stage weapons a few years later. He ended up painting them because they didn't look like he wanted either. I'm sure you will find some good use for it. It may be hard enough to use as a mini anvil or positive form swage the way it is until you find a better use. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle joe Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 My local scrap metal man has a hand held spectrometer, that he uses to check the grade of metal for pricing, yours may have one also. It is always to have a friend in the scrap metal business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 So, why do you want to know the carbon content? Hex bar is often "nut stock" and will probably be 300 series and should be non-magnetic. What else do you need to know and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 it might be leaveright. Mike Tanner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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