[TheForge] Lawnmower blade question

[Daniel Kretchmar]

Wes,
    I used them for all sorts of knife like thing.  I think you even
saw a few at WW last year.  They make great cleaver blanks once they
are cut in half.  Just remember that the blade were discarded for a
reason.  If they struck a rock they may have micro fractures in the
blade that you won't find out about until the piece is almost done.
You lose all that time you put into it.  I have made several pattern
welded billets using lawn mower blades as one of the metals.  Since
they are being welded up to other metals, a few micro fractures
shouldn't matter.  If you include them they make a nice contrast to
other metals.

See you at WW?

Danr

On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 1:45 AM, Wesley Marquart
<marquart at arlinn-tower.com> wrote:
> Hi guys, figured I'd ask the collective mind.
>
>
>
> This spring I've tapped into a local source for used lawnmower blades.  When
> I asked if they ever had any they said "Oh we get a few.  Want us to save
> them for you?"
>
>
>
> I said "Please" and now I've gotten a whole bunch on my hands!  (And I'm due
> to go by tomorrow to pick up a bunch more)
>
>
>
> So the questions are these:
>
>   [1]  any ideas on what these are made out of?  Obviously Steel, I'm just
> wondering what sort. they seem to be pretty tough stuff.
>
>   [2]  things I can make out of them?  So far I've come up with camp
> knives, garden trowels, and brush knives for projects.
>
>
>
> Tomorrow after I get home from my 'source' I'm planning on putting together
> a hiller/furrower for the Mantis tiller.  That's where I get the blades,
> local rental place where I have that thing worked on..  This time it needed
> a new clutch. easy to replace but that little part is expensive.
>
>
>
> I wanted a Troy built, the wife wanted a Mantis. so that's what we got
> [shrug].  Now I get to keep that little thing up and make attachments for
> it.
>
>
>
> So ideas, advice?
>
>
>
> Wes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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