[TheForge] bandsaw steel problem

[James Binnion]

It could be a variety of different steels depending on what it was  
made to cut but unless it is a bi-metal blade it will probably not be  
a high alloy fancy steel like M42 or such as they are too brittle and  
expensive to make the whole blade from. It will probably be a "carbon  
steel" which still could be fairly fancy in composition but just not a  
super high percentage of alloying elements.

Uddeholm 15N20 is a band saw blade steel C: 0,71% Ni 2% Si: 0,30% Mn:  
0,50% P max: 0,020% S max: 0,015%
or it could be L6   C 0.65-0.75%  Mn 0.25-0.80% Si 0.50%  Cr  
0.60-1.20%  Ni 1.25-2.00%  Mo 0.50%  V 0.20-0.30%  Cu 0.25%  P 0.03%   
S 0.03%

In either case for maximum softness proper annealing procedure would  
need to be followed.  For L6 that would be hold at 1400-1450 for 1 Hr  
then cool at 40 F per hr till 1000F then faster cooling will not  
affect the annealed hardness.

You can probably get away with less time at temperature and cooling in  
ashes or vermiculite but it will be harder than if you follow the  
recommended procedures. But just laying it on the floor is going to  
cool way too fast.

Jim

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James Binnion
jbin at well.com