Don Fogg does it all the time. Others too. Not necessarily the style you
pictured here but double edge is do-able. I think the trick is in balancing
the clay on both sides to avoid warpage.
GA
Sure, it's doable, but why would you? If it's 5160, then zone temper isn't as
effective as a deep harden and draw. I tried some clay mask on 5160; didn't get
a hamon, more of a change in luster. The mask was only good for about five
points, hardly worth the effort. Plain carbon steels are much more responsive
to the clay mask, I think the chrome slows everything down too much to get the
hard transition.
Charly
I dont think it is 5160 series steel. I think it is a plain carbon steel
type.
I live in Europe, so it is possible it is a eropean type steel.
It is possible for me to find some left overs from the spring the blade was
forged, and see if it takes the clay tempering.
Do someone here know about someone that can clay temper the blade for me?
And with some kind of guaranty?
I am no blacksmith myself, so i am afrayd to destroy the blade. The smith
that made the blade for me here in norway, does not have the time and
know-how to do it.
I can send mesurements on the blade or pictures on request.
It's a truck spring, so it's exceedingly likely that it is either 5160,
or something very closely equivalent (but european) to 5160, since that
works very well for truck springs, so virtually all truck and car leaf
springs are made from it.
Yep. What both "Cats..." and "C the B" has said. :)
I read a book about this subject and it boils down to this...
The use of alloy steels (like 5160 or a hundred others that are
similar, a full dozen that are common were discussed in detail) for
automotive springs is all about getting the same-hardness all the
way into the core of the spring so the whole thick-ass spring works
together. Soft core (or soft jacket) is easy to visualize giving
out first and the whole spring soon failing. See it now? :)
So none of them are your better steels for clay-mask work! :/
They are formulated for just the opposite reasons. :)
(axle shafts same thing)
Which you might figure out a good use for those properities and be
glad "they are that way"? :)
I read where railroad car springs might be plain 1075 but I wouldn't
believe it unless I had some spectrographed. Careful spark testing
(in the dark) might do it "good-nuff" tho?
Alvin in AZ
Guarantee??? You want it when? Clay mask is a crapshoot. It either works or it
doesn't. There are so many variables involved that guarantees are right out. If
you want reliable results, forget clay and go with the standard quench and draw.
For that, all you need to find is a spring fabrication company and enough cash
to convince them to do it.
Charly
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