Caius Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I have a few sections of band saw, about 12" wide X 1/8" (if I remember correctly) by about four feet long. No idea what alloy it is, and have yet to find anything definitive through google. Can anyone point my nose in the right direction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 May be a variation of L6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caius Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Maybe so. But if it isn't and I treat it as l6 it won't be have the same. Maybe I should cut a sample and give it to my friend who does ndt. Maybe send it to one of his pmi guys. Or I could just be less hard headed and test it myself. Sorry for just rambling and thinking aloud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Without knowing the manufacturer and date it was manufactured and part number--- NOBODY knows exactly what it is. Without testing. "Junkyard rules" apply. Remember *NOTHING* prevents a manufacturer from changing which alloy they use 3 times a day---unless their documentation specifies a specific alloy for that specific blade. Spark spectroscopy is one method of finding out the details on an unknown alloy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caius Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 So essentially hit it with a grinder and compare sparks to that of a known alloy, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 maybe. try and see. Seeing that it was free, what do you have to loose by trying a few tests in your shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caius Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Actually I was referring to a method to accurately determine alloy content where you clean a surface and make a spark off it and then evaluate the frequencies giving the elements it contains---fancy piece of equipment. see wiki---http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_emission_spectroscopy You are thinking of the spark testing for carbon content---doesn't usually tell you what other elements are present! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I've got a bunch of this steel. One piece had the Remanent of Udderholm stenciled on it. After some web sloothing I found that it was basically 1070 with a little more manganese (if I recall correctly). That made sense because the test blades performed like 1070. I use the stuff for Damascus, machetes and throw away work knives. L-6 is never used in band saw blades, at least I have never ran across a manufacturer that listed it. It isn't the best steel, but good practice. I can be a little challenging to anneal (due to the extra manganese?) but not killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain ol Bill Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Odds are it is 15N20 steel by Uderholm as posted above. Basically the same as 1070-1075 except there is 2% nickel added and that accounts for the brightness. A great steel in blades, Damascus and very easy to heat treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caius Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 Cool deal. Thanks for the insight guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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