Rileyrock Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 does any steel cable work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad J Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) any "over head" type cable. such as crane cable, elevator cable, and i believe cable chokers (i don't recall the composition of cable chokers right off hand) pretty much any of those that aren't galvanized. and make sure they are clean on the inside, some cables have a plastic strip on the inside. Edited December 7, 2009 by chadj added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rileyrock Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 cool thanks im going to the scrap yard tomorrow so i wanna look around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermetal Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Most cable or rigging shops will let you have tails out of the scrap tub ( at least the ones Ive tried. Just tell them you are making cable knives and need a few scraps, They should be more than willing to give you all the cable you could ever want. Much better to work with new, clean cable to weld up than stuff that has had grease and dirt driven into it for 50 years.... Look in the phone book for outfits that swage cable and make up rigging in your area.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermetal Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 any "over head" type cable. such as crane cable, elevator cable, and i believe cable chokers (i don't recall the composition of cable chokers right off hand) pretty much any of those that aren't galvanized. and make sure they are clean on the inside, some cables have a plastic strip on the inside. and yes.. you need "bright" cable... that is no stainless or no fibercore.. and no galvanized... The standard I think is referred to as 6 X 19 bright carbon wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 we use 6x19 eips...it about like 1095 i think...it's solid core,but has line tar on it...also it is 1 1/8-1 1/4"diamiter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermetal Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I think all carbon wire comes in grease to keep it from rusting... I have always just burned it out with a torch.... something that should be done outside and away from the shop... Another thing I just remembered is there is a product called "compact swage" wire that is a bit easier to weld.... What it is ... well its compacted wire.. When the nets got bigger on the fishing boats they needed stronger cable on the winches.. but a lot of the winches have grooved drums so if they are made for 7/8 cable, you have to use 7/8 cable.... so what they did was take 1" cable and run it through a rolling press and swaged it down to 7/8... basically taking all the extra space out... not quite as flexible but since its as strong as 1" cable.... since its a tighter wire it is a bit easier to weld.. not much but everything helps.... It helps what ever wire you use to do a "tighten up" twist at heat before trying to weld it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 You can always take apart cable and clean it, then rebundle it. JPH shows this process well in his new thread. http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f52/legendary-sword-septis-16029/ I bundled a bunch of insulation hangers like that for practice and got a small billet that sparks as medium carbon. Not sure what to do with it since it was for practice and I expected it to be mild. I have more bent and damaged insulation hangers that I plan to bundle and weld together to get something usable. I set the initial weld by twisting. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rileyrock Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 sweet ty all for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakwoodforge Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've gotten cable from Web Rigging supply before - WIRE ROPE & CABLE > Wire Rope > General Purpose Rope - WebRiggingSupply look for the words : " 6X19 CLASS IWRC EXTRA IMPROVED PLOW STEEL, RIGHT REGULAR LAY " 1.25 " Diameter is what I buy, they sell it by the foot, though when I tell them I need 5 pieces 1 foot long each they do think I'm a little nuts ... happy hammering ! Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rileyrock Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 thank you sir and is the cable clean or does it have oil on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rileyrock Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 (edited) thanks again all for the info Edited December 16, 2009 by Rileyrock mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenshane Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I have some steel cable, it's about 3/4 inch, but it's covered with rust. Just a couple of questions, 1. Is it thick (heavy) enough? 2. Do I need to clean off the rust? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucegodlesky Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 yes, it's thick enough. No, the fire will take care of the rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edenshane Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thank you, you are all very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarnikolai711 Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 I’m about to buy 5/8” cable but the guy doesn’t know if it is bright or galvanized, anyway to tell? It’s not stainless bc it’s pretty rusted. I don’t want to waste the $100 but at the same time it’s 200 feet of cable sooooo Also I know this is 11 years later but not much on cable Damascus when searching they the good ol google Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Can you get a sample off the end to try out? If they don't know any details do they know if it's a suitable steel for making knives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarnikolai711 Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Guy got it for a choker for his tractor. He said it’s bright cable after I asked but I mean he could be blowing smoke. Think I’m gonna take the risk at $100 for 200ft and if it isn’t high carbon I’m make mild steel Damascus for guards and what not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Will it show any pattern if it's all mild steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarnikolai711 Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Guy swears it’s bright high carbon cable now but even if it wasn’t I’m sure if I used 1084 powder to forge it it would show some sort of pattern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 I would pass just due to the diameter, 5/8" cable is pretty small for making Damascus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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