Anyone have a source for 1/4" flat bar or maybe 3/4"-1" round bar L-6? I should stipulate CLEAN L-6. I have some 3/16", but it has carbon banding and is useless for anything but damascus.

If not L-6, what about 15&20? Will it heat treat and function like L-6?

Thanks

William,

Will you explain about the carbon banding in the 3/16 L-6 that you have. I got some 3/16 from Admiral Steel a couple years ago and have not had good results with it.

Maybe Karl Schroen can tell you where to look for the L-6 since it is his favorite steel. I was not able to fine an email address for him....





Karl Schroen, 4042 Bones Road, Sebastopol, California, 95472, 707-823-4057

Crucible has some l6 in their bargain bin.

http://www.crucibleservice.com/bblist.cfm

dunno if it is the size you need or not...

Ray, the blade heat treated and ground fine, but when I went to finish it I found some minor inclusions and when I etched to bring out the temper line wide bands showed up on the blade surface as though the alloys were not completly mixed.

Taz, thanks, looks like I need to give crucible a call

The steel may be fine. Banding can occur post-heat treat due to cooling rates, etc. I believe this is called element segregation. JD Smith did alot of work with this some years ago and produced what he called Hammer Steel, a patterned homogenous steel, essentially Wootz.

I've used a good bit of the older L-6 and never had a problem, this batch is the first time I ever had it to occure. The banding is very wide also.

I did Have some old chipper blades that I was told was L-6 and after forging they showed an almost damascuslike pattern. Very subtle though.

:confused:

Will, sounds like shear steel. I started a post on it not to long ago....

http://www.ckdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7413

I picked up 20# of L6 in 7/8" round stock for 55 cents a pound. The shipping came to as much as the steel! Thanks for the tip.

John

Looks like you beat me to it John! Thats Ok, I've got 24' of 3/4" L-6 on the way from Crucible. Your right about the shipping, man that's half the cost.

Will,

Would you like my L6? It is 7/8" round. I didn't realize I was getting the last of it, and I won't get to working it for a long, long time. I'll sell it at cost+shipping from 02138 (Cambride, MA).

Let me know if you want it at <seoulbjj@hotmail.com>

John

Don't wory about it John, first come first served and all that, besides, I just got my 22' of 3/4" in and since it's not my primary steel it'll take a while for me to use it up.

Thanks anyway.

Will, I'd say you got plenty for awhile. If your hand forging it its going to be around for even longer. I see you in the future trying to sell some off....:D

I spoke to Kelly Cupples on paltalk the other night, he has a good source of 15n20, he sells it for $3 a pound delivered might try to look him up.
Sorry, I dont have his address, he's in WA state


Mike

Ray, It wont' get much hand forgeing, I may not even finish a knife this time in, right now I'm working on a 50lb power hammer to speed things up.