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  #1  
Old 11-12-2007, 10:04 AM
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What is it these days ?

Just wondering what leaf spring is made of these days and will it still make good knives ?

It used to be 5160 but I'm not sure what it is anymore.

Foxy
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Old 11-12-2007, 11:26 AM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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Good question, not sure what the alloy is. I've spark tested and experimented with a few pieces and it seems to work a lot the same as 5160. The sparks are noticeably different though. I also think it is some kind of alloy steel, not a simple steel.

It's basically a medium/high carbon oil hardening alloy steel from what I can tell. I haven't actually made a blade out of any yet though.


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Old 11-12-2007, 11:39 AM
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Hmmmmmmnnn. Sure would like to know how it works out in a knife
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Old 11-12-2007, 11:48 AM
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From what I can tell, it should be fine. Steve picks up pieces from a scrap bin in town at a spring company. I think he's made some blades from it.


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Old 11-12-2007, 07:30 PM
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Do a test blade and see what happens.....

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Old 11-13-2007, 01:22 AM
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I was over in teh Ed Caffreys section and they mentioned that new springs are made of 9260. Sounds like they are doing some experimanting with it.


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Old 11-13-2007, 02:51 AM
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make a call to Dunbar springs,,in down town Phoenix
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Old 11-13-2007, 09:50 AM
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I guess 9260 works just like 5160. Sounds like they are increasing the content of whatever the first 2 numbers represent.

Also, Skip, My total apologies for not getting over to your place when I said I would. a week ago. Lost my job and have been in a bit of an uproar trying to figure out my next move.
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Old 11-13-2007, 01:03 PM
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we'll set it up for another day.
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Old 11-13-2007, 02:26 PM
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I use springs exclusively, though I'm on the last of my old ones that I know are 5160. Love working with the stuff: it's so predictable and easy to harden.


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Old 11-13-2007, 02:33 PM
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Any using of the new ?

Does that mean you have had some experience with some of the newer spring steel as well ?



Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltaire
I use springs exclusively, though I'm on the last of my old ones that I know are 5160. Love working with the stuff: it's so predictable and easy to harden.
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Old 11-13-2007, 03:09 PM
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I've used some of the new springs, these are about 3/8" thick by 2.5" wide, marked "Made in Canada (eh?)". They work just like 5160, the only difference between that and 9260 is the alloying elements. 5160 has chrome, 9260 has that and silicon. Chrome helps with deep hardening and grain refinement, silicon helps with grain and makes it tougher than all git-out. Whatever these new ones are, I like it. Unless I'm trying to drill holes in the tang...

Sorry to hear about the job.
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  #13  
Old 11-13-2007, 04:33 PM
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The question assumes that all leaf springs are made of one steel, which certainly isn't true. I'm sure a lot of them are 9260. Some are still 5160. Many are probably something else entirely. Asking what kind of steel leaf springs are made of is kind of like asking what kind of steel knives are made from. Lots of kinds! (That said, I don't recall ever seeing a standard chemical composition for a spring steel that didn't include enough carbon to make a blade. It's possible that they're out there, but I wouldn't hesitate to try to make a blade from any large industrial/automotive spring.)
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Old 11-13-2007, 04:45 PM
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Excellent run down gentleman. I'm going to forge ahead :-)

Alan, I'll be home to Knoxville next Saturday the 17th, I'll give you a call when I get there ! Looking forward to seeing your shop !
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  #15  
Old 11-13-2007, 07:56 PM
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I got to thinking about that silicon thing included in 9260 and remembered from my bronze casting days that we used silicon bronze. It was harder than a brick bat
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