[TheForge] Steel Sources for Weapons

[Steve Bloom]

At 12:03 PM 2/5/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I appreciate the suggestions of using 5160, 1085, and 1095 but I was
>looking for something more along the lines of me being able to go out to
>the junk yards or the tracks and find. My metallurgical knowledge is
>very small so translating those numbers into items is impossible for me.
>If I remember right they represent the grade of steel and the amount of
>carbon in it? Was hoping someone could give me some everyday items that
>could be used. Again this is just for learning purposed at this point.

Check out Admiral Steel : 1/4 X 1-1/2 X 22' $74.54 5160
That's about 7 swords worth at $10 a pop. New steel is cheap compared to
trying to bash down a leaf spring (Yeah, I've done it 'cause at times my
cheapness overrides my brain).

Bottom line - new stuff is inexpensive, close to the size you need so you
don't waste time and energy just resizing it, and you'll know precisely what
you've got which makes the heat-treat far more predictable. 5160 is a nice
steel - you've got to work at it to mess it up.

Steve
Steve Bloom, IronFlower Forge. Archer, FL
     Webmaster for the FABA web site:
	www.blacksmithing.org