Any blacksmiths here? Spring steel.

[Almost Jack Burton]

I would really like to know about this person that teaches for free.

Same here.

 

[Ahall]

I'll put one on the drill press tomorrow and give it the test. I can also pretty much tell hardness by running on a grinder. The sparks are different for a redneck method.

actually not as redneck as you might think
Back in the 1950's several steel companies published literature on how to read the sparks.
Its a bit of an art, but was once an accepted industry technique for classifying material.

 

[Buck98]

I have some old brush hog blades if that works for anyone. FREE!!!!!!

 

[dennishoddy]

actually not as redneck as you might think
Back in the 1950's several steel companies published literature on how to read the sparks.
Its a bit of an art, but was once an accepted industry technique for classifying material.

I called it redneck but learned how to read the sparks when working in a couple machine shops for around 20 years.
I did the test tonight. 60 Rockwell pocketknife scratched the mower blade, but a drill took a little effort to penetrate it.
Sparks were semi-light in color, not red.
I'm thinking hardness was around the mid 40's.
I do know the standard for a railroad spike is 46 Rockwell. Tested a few on some real testers. (I used to use the spikes to build food plot drags and was curious) Still have a bucket full and they redneck tested about the same.
Probably what is expected? Mower blades can't be a 60 or they would break on impact with rocks but need to be hard enough to endure some damage.
Too soft for a knife blade, so these and a few others go into the steel scrap.

 

[2busy]

I called it redneck but learned how to read the sparks when working in a couple machine shops for around 20 years.
I did the test tonight. 60 Rockwell pocketknife scratched the mower blade, but a drill took a little effort to penetrate it.
Sparks were semi-light in color, not red.
I'm thinking hardness was around the mid 40's.
I do know the standard for a railroad spike is 46 Rockwell. Tested a few on some real testers. (I used to use the spikes to build food plot drags and was curious) Still have a bucket full and they redneck tested about the same.
Probably what is expected? Mower blades can't be a 60 or they would break on impact with rocks but need to be hard enough to endure some damage.
Too soft for a knife blade, so these and a few others go into the steel scrap.

I'd be curious what a sickle mower section would test at.

 

[Mr.Glock]

Same here.

I would really like to know about this person that teaches for free.

It is in McLoud. He has free knife making lessons.

The Gargoyle Garage and Forge​

Blacksmith in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Address: 1958 S Pottawatomie Rd, Harrah, OK 73045

 

[Camo]

GONE

 

[TedKennedy]

All the ones I ever had were hardened . Couldn't straighten a bent one or drill through it.

Yeah I have nerve damage in one finger because I tried to mark a mower blade with a punch. Punch broke and sent a piece of steel into the side of my finger through a nerve. My leather gloves were sitting right next to me.