D.Bernard Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I've been given a shaft from oildrolic cylinder off of a large piece of construction equipment - 2"+ diam. Question, does anyone know what steel is used in these? The gentleman who gave it to me said it was very hard stuff to cut. Maybe good for power hammer tools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapman1077 Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 We make some of the same parts at work, chrome plated shaft is 4140, at least the stuff we use is. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backyardsmith Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 dosent 4140 make good hammers? and i dont think chrome is a heath danger (not sure ) because its only a very thin layer of chromium but then i dont know :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Bernard Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 Thanks guys. I'll check out the chrome question but if no great hazard, I'll definitely use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Yes the chromium IS dangerous! I work for a major chemical company (Fortune 500 company) as a fitter/welder (34yrs exp.)and ANY time we plasma, airarc, or STICK or MIG weld we have to barracade off a 20ft. radius area, wear a resparator, use a smoke ventalation system, vacumm our clothes off when finished with job, clean up floors/tables with floor sweep, shower, put dirty clothes in a marked plastic bag, (the bag is water soluble) and all this for ANY material that has chrome in it, no matter the amount of chrome. Grinding and tig welding causes no problems as far as our industial hygiene department has determined. This procedure has been put in sevice only in the last month or so but any violation will result in "extreme disiplinary action". we comply.... SO... take this for what you think it is worth but please BE SAFE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Bernard Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 Thanks Thomas. Looks like I'll cut a hunk off, grind all chrome plate off, then forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted T Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Thomas Dean, Thank You. I love blacksmithing, But Safety First! Then Blacksmithing. Thanks for the time you spent to give us a heads up. I understand you care. Be safe, be safe! Ted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Turner Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Yes the chromium IS dangerous! I work for a major chemical company (Fortune 500 company) as a fitter/welder (34yrs exp.)and ANY time we plasma, airarc, or STICK or MIG weld we have to barracade off a 20ft. radius area, wear a resparator, use a smoke ventalation system, vacumm our clothes off when finished with job, clean up floors/tables with floor sweep, shower, put dirty clothes in a marked plastic bag, (the bag is water soluble) and all this for ANY material that has chrome in it, no matter the amount of chrome. Grinding and tig welding causes no problems as far as our industial hygiene department has determined. This procedure has been put in sevice only in the last month or so but any violation will result in "extreme disiplinary action". we comply.... SO... take this for what you think it is worth but please BE SAFE!!! Thomas so forging chromium steels is dangerous? I have not heard of anyone getting sick or dying from forging 5160 or 52100, should we not use these steels? Sorry D. Bernard don't want to hijack your thread but I use these steels a lot, I also use a chrome plated 1050 rod that is used for hydrolic cylinder shafts. So I was just wondering about these steels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 From my understanding it has to do with fluxes in the rods/wire and the actual burning as would be the case in plasma cutting and air arcing. If I can find the info I'll try to post on what the hazards are and the effects they have on you. The real hazards are in your plating shops. "HEXACHROMES" are the culprets which pretty much incompasses all materials with any chrome in them. sorry for the late post...been away for a few days.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mills Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Since we are here, let me add that Cr6 or hexachrome is bad news (Erin Brokavich stuff) We regularly test for in waste streams and the respiratory danger when cutting, grinding orwelding is high! Having said that heat chrome plate enough to burn it off is when you will CREATE Cr6 as the stable plating is Cr3 very benign stuff. Forging an alloy the Cr stays in solution so even tho you have the heat Cr prefers to stay where it is at in the alloy. Excessive heat over time may allow it to slip out. Let the IH's weigh in with more specifics if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Murch Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 It may be IHCP bar. Induction hardened, chrome plated. 1045/1050. Carbon from .43 to .55. It's good stuff. I use it for hammers. Just grind the chrome off outdoors before forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Turner Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Ok so what is this? This is the chrome plated rod that I have. http://www.pmtsco.com/CHROME2.HTM And does this apply to the chromium steels that we use like 5160 and 52100? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallsme Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Hi I have use 4140 dayli in my forge for 25years for blacksmith tools, as swages,hammers etc etc. Here in Sweden we call it SS-2541 (swedish standard) Kallsme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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