Gallery, Projects and General > How do I??

Identify ground flat stock?

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raynerd:
I`m hoping to make some cutters in the next few weeks and I have a draw full of steel flat stock. Is there any way of making sure it is ground flat stock/silver steel suitable for hardening, rather than just mild steel. To be honest, I have the same issue with bar - is there any way of telling a difference between silver steel and other mild steel?

 

andyf:
Google "steel spark test" Chris.

Alternatively, cut a bit off and see if you can harden it - colour of boiled carrots and dunk it. Don't temper it. Then, if it's silver steel, a file won't touch it.

Andy

Jasonb:

--- Quote from: craynerd on September 18, 2011, 05:57:54 PM --- I have a draw full of steel flat stock.  rather than just mild steel. 

--- End quote ---

Keep it in separate draws :D

Apart from the above you can usually get a good idea by looking at the surface particularly ground flat stock as it will have the look of a ground surface rather than milled.

J

mike os:
sharpie is your bestest friend.... write on it when cut

with unknown stuff you can only spark test... personally I find this sometimes difficult to call.... or harden as suggested.

David Jupp:
'Ordinary' hot rolled steel (HRS) doesn't have sharp corners, and may have a blue/grey phosphate coating.  

Bright Mild Steel (BMS) has sharp corners, from the sizing die and may also have minor longitudinal marks on the surface. Generally has a slightly oily finish too which gives some minor protection from rusting.

As already mentioned, ground material (silver steel or Precision Ground Mild Steel) will have a fine ground finish.

HRS and BMS should be easy enough to spot by eye - I'm not convinded that it's possible to reliably see the difference between silver steel and PGMS.

Silver Steel often comes in 13" lengths which may help with identification.

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