Aaron Gann Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 hi I am new to this website and am going to ask a question that has already been answered probably. I've searched and i couldn't find it anywhere. I've been trying to cut a leaf spring so that i can make a knife out of it, my saw will not cut and and when i look at the little metal it did cut it is blue, i tried to normalize it by heating it up to bright red/orange and let it cool in a bucket of ashes to make is softer (done it on a few saw blades) but it won't soften can somebody please help, or show me where the thread is that already has this answer???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 what kind of saw/blade do you have? it is dull ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Gann Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 no it is a brand new bi-metal cutting saw blade for reciprocating saw from lowes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Gann Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 sorry to clarify i meant i've heated up a few old saw blades and normalized them to make blades out of now the ones i'm trying to actually cut with, also done that with a few old files Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Good luck cutting with that. May I suggest trying a hot chisel ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalMuncher Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Nice to have you around Steve. Aarongann, I use leaf springs alot and use hot chisels more than my angle grinder. A "hot cut" is done by using a plain old chisel to cut the metal while it is hot. Dont cut all the way through though, or youll wind up denting the anvil face, then it can easily be broken off. I usually sharpen my chisels on a grinder, for maximum cutting power. There is also a small hammer, looks like a crosspeen hammer, but the crosspeen is sharpened. Its small mind you, dont get a huge 3 pounder and sharpen the peen. What you do is place the sharp end on the hot metal(has to have some good color in it) and smac the other side(the hammer face). Simple stuff, and works great. Good luck and welcome to the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Leaf spring cuts easily with a metal saw, I use my band saw all the time with no problem. Trying to cut metal saw blades with a metal saw isn't likely to be very successful. Hot cut, torch, plasma, etc. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaming S Forge Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 A chop saw works well and if you don't have a chop saw, a cut off wheel on a right angle grinder will also work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 A decent metal cutting blade should go through a leaf spring. Are you applying maybe too much force when cutting ? Make sure you allow the saw to cut it's way through, you won't speed it up any by trying to push it through...and if that's the case, could be just that you overheated the blade. Try a new blade, go easy on it and see if it works. Some type of cut-off wheel would be the quickest, either chop saw or angle grinder if you are just making a couple cuts across the width, you'll be done before you even get your forge lit to hot cut it...But if you're trying to split it down the center length-wise or something like that, you'll likely want to throw it in the fire and hot cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 maybe I was incorrect when I assumed since he said he was using a "reciprocating saw from Lowes" that was all he had, guess I should have asked what other options he had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 maybe I was incorrect when I assumed since he said he was using a "reciprocating saw from Lowes" that was all he had, guess I should have asked what other options he had. Heh...on a similar note, I probably shouldn't have assumed he had other options, I never thought of that. Aarongann, what cutting methods do you have available ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I use plasma and it works wonderfully. Draw with a marker and cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strantor Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Yeah man I feel your pain. I went out and bought (used) a 12" bandsaw to cut thru leaf springs (and other things) but forget it. The bimetal blade barely puts scratches in the leaf spring (I also normalized prior). I broke down and got an acetylene torch and it does the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Gann Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 thank you all very much, i tried the chisel method and worked like a charm, unfortunately the reciprocating saw is my only option atm because i can't afford anything else right now. thank you all very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalMuncher Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Any time dude! Glad the chisel worked, you get the hang of it after some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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