[TheForge] Re: Steel question OT

[Andrew Vida]

Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer wrote:
> 
> 
> Andrew Vida wrote:
>>
>>
>> Mike wrote:
>>>> L6 was traditionally used in large saw blades, where contacting a
>>>> knot and being shocked was likely.  Very tough stuff, a bit red-hard
>>>> under the hammer.  Makes a good blade in bowies, camp knives etc.
>>>
>>> The old guy I got my Jardine 25# from made butcher knives -- very
>>> wide, hefty ones used for real butchering -- from band saw blades,
>>> several inches wide, that he got from a contact at a big
>>> industrial-scale sawmill.  He didn't forge them, just cut them out,
>>> sharpened and polished them and put slab grips on.  Claimed they were
>>> best quality knives.  He'd been making knives for butchers and
>>> fishermen for decades so he should have known.
>>>
>>> I have a blank he cut out.  One of these times I'll finish it to his
>>> shape and see what I have.
>>
>>     I would imagine that this method should make an excellent blade.  
>> The HT is already there and probably perfect for a "kitchen" knife.  I 
>> think it would be a waste of time and other resources to forge them.
>>
>>     OT: I never thought I would experience anything more emotionally 
>> draining than a Jewish wedding.  Today I discovered the Jewish 
>> funeral.  Right now I'm thinking they should have covered me up as well.
> 
> That's nothing..you ought to see a Jewish divorce!...On second 
> thought....

	cast iron as my constitution is, I don't think it could withstand one 
of those.

	I just recalled a Puerto Rican funeral I went to in 1992 for my best 
friend's cousin, Ray.  I forgot what an ordeal THAT was.  In fact I 
think it was worse, and therefore my mind simply blotted it out until 
now.  Those priests go on and on for DAYS spewing the same prayer.  I 
never heard "hay-soos" issue from one pie hole so many times in my 
entire life.  I think it made my head hurt.

	Ooooo... I have an iron related question.  Several months ago I nabbed 
about 3 tons of wrought iron fron a demolition site here in Philly.  I 
call it wrought iron, but my friend Marshall takes issue with that.  The 
iron corrodes like wrought, showing a distinct grain pattern.  It has 
demonstrated good corrosion resistance.  It fails precisely in the 
manner of wrought iron.  The one place where it departs expectations is 
in the spark test, showing slight sparklies of a very low-yellow tinge 
rather than orangey spikes.

	This brings up the question of wrought iron's definition, I suppose. 
To me this is wrought largely because of its clear grain structure, 
apparent corrosion resistance as the result of the presence of iron 
silicate, and its failure mode.  My readings, including Byers' book, 
indicates that the carbon content of wrought, while consistently low 
throughout history, still leaves some room for variance, particularly in 
light of the statistically uncontrolled nature of the ancient processes.

	I cannot see this material as being blister steel as I'm not familiar 
with anyone making large structural members (I-beams and channels) from 
this material.  Could this material be crucible steel?  Doesn't seem 
right either, for no other reason than most of the impurities were 
removed in that process.  The iron silicate was certainly regarded as an 
impurity and the iron I have shows a VERY strong grain.

	Everything about this material, save perhaps the C content says 
"wrought iron".  Anyone have any more definitive information on this?

	Oh, yeah, it forges like very high quality wrought, too.

	-Andy