What likes L6

[Kimall]

Hi guys I hope you can help me as I am very new to forging.I have made a couple of cable blades and thought I had a chain billet made yesterday until it broke.
Anyway I have heaps of L6 that I have been using for stock removal but love the pattern welded blades so what would be a good steel to get to do a stack with the L6 and and easy to etch at home combo.Thanks in advance..........
Cheers KIM

[mete]

One of the better combos is L-6/O-1. The nickel in the L-6 will etch lighter than the O-1 .The HT schedule for both is about the same. .The procedures however depend on which L-6 you have, Carpenter or Crucible. Crucible's will air harden. Something to be aware of.

[Kimall]

Thanks Mete the L6 is from an old sawmill round saw blade so not sure what type that is.it does come up very shiney and light almost like chrome when polished.
Cheers KIM

[mete]

How do you know it's L-6 ?? Many assume a sawmill blade is L-6 but they can be various steels .Do you have a KNOWN steel that you can compare it to as far as etching ? The nickel in L-6 will etch lighter than a non-nickel steel.