nitro Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 I have a base plate I think thats what is it is. Its is the plate the rail lays on and the spikes go throught to hold down the rail. My question is would this be good metal for knife making and what would be the carbon content? Thanks for the help Nitro:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Richards Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Here is a link to common RR steels. Test the plate by HT a small piece. BP0011 Common Railroad Steels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitro Posted March 3, 2008 Author Share Posted March 3, 2008 what should I be looking for when the steel is heat treaded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Richards Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Forge out a small piece (less than 1/8th thick). Bring it up to heat until it just looses magnetic attraction then quench it in water. Then stick it in a vise and hit it with a hammer. If it breaks it is probably good for a knife. If it bends no good. If it cracks in the quench then use oil for the knifeblade. If it does break look at the fracture and see what it looks like. You should see a nice gray surface with no granules like sand in it. If there is it was over heated. Or possibly l not normalized properly. But this is for future HT applications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Dwyer Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Chuck, Thanks for the HT stress tips. That doesn't sound too complicated. I checked out you website, nice! -Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger1875 Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 a few years ago I had a booklet of a steel company with all the sorts of steel what they made. they where specialized in railroadtracks and what they showed, was all over 0,6% carbon and somewhat mangan, nothing else really countable. The grade of carbon should work for normal blades and tools and a hardness around 58 HRC should be reached easily. Badger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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