Below are two emails from Jamie Boley at Polar bear Forge. He posted a the results of the metallurgical analysis of common junkyard metals. They are listed at the bottom. There are also a couple of links to interpret the results. The second link, Blade Steeel Composition Chart lists dozens of steels and their make up. So, for example on the forurm one items listed was bed frame angle iron. Here is how it compares to 1050 steel.
Bed frame angle iron
STEEL C
Cr Co Mn
Mo Ni P
Si S W
V
Frame 0.53 0.02
--- 0.83 0.005 0.01 0.020 0.19
0.02 --- 0.002
1050 .48 -.55 ---
--- .6 - .9 ---
--- .04 --- .05
--- ---
"Here's a webpage that describes it pretty well.
http://www.material
It tells about the effects of the different alloys in steel.
http://www.knifemak
This one has compositions of different steels listed. You can compare, say the
torsion bar, to one of the known compositions and find one that pretty dang
close.
It's probably more important in regards to the heat treat for these steels. If
you could, take a look through the links and then go with questions. I could
type >>A LOT<< otherwise. :)
Jamie
Metal Analysis:
One of the guys over on Don
Fogg's forum has been sending a number of samples from common sources to
a friend of his and having them analyzed. Here's the information. I guess that
the machine isn't setup to detect tungsten.
(Link to
original post)
____________
Torsion bar (make unknown)
C:0.60 | Mn:0.85 | P:0.030 | S:0.025 | Si:0.28 | Cu:0.01 | Cr:0.80 | Mo:0.02 |
Ni:0.01 | Sn:0.01 | V:0.008 | Nb: -
Looks like 5160.
____________
Cheapo, made-in-India, Harbor Freight bastard file:
C:1.3 | Mn: 0.34 | P:0.015 | S:0.009 | Si:0.24 | Cu:0.01 | Cr:0.62 | Mo:0.005 |
Ni:0.02 | Sn: 0.003 | V: - | Nb:0.010
____________
Huge old Nicholson mill bastard file:
C:1.28 | Mn:0.34 | P: 0.016 | S:0.015 | Si:0.15 | Cu: 0.02 | Cr:0.14 | Mo:0.005
| Ni: 0.02 | Sn: 0.002 | V: - | Nb: -
____________
Huge old Heller mill bastard file:
C:1.20 | Mn:0.25 | P:0.010 | S:0.020 | Si:0.12 | Cu:0.04 | Cr:0.03 | Mo: 0.004 |
Ni:0.03 | Sn:0.018 | V: 0.005 | Nb: -
____________
Railroad tie plate (surprise here for me; I was figuring on something like
1050):
C:0.19 | Mn:0.42 | P:0.005 | S:0.030 | Si::0.04 | Cu:0.24 | Cr:0.05 | Mo:0.009 |
Ni:0.07 | Sn:0.011 | V: - | Nb: -
____________
Used leaf spring:
C:0.57 | Mn:0.74 | P:0.010 | S:0.015 | Si:0.23 | Cu:0.25 | Cr:0.70 | Mo:0.02 |
Ni:0.09 | Sn:0.008 | V:0.004 | Nb:0.070
In other words, it's 5160. (This time)
____________
Big ol' truck coil spring taken from the same dumpster as the leaf spring,
above:
C:0.58 | Mn:0.82 | P:0.018 | S:0.016 | Si:0.90 | Cu:0.01 | Cr:0.46 | Mo:0.01 |
Ni:0.005 | Sn:0.002 | V:0.094 | Nb:0.007
____________
Rail anchor ("clip"):
C: 0.51 | Mn: 0.80 | P: 0.01 | S: 0.03 | Si: 0.18 | Cu: 0.24 | Cr: 0.07 | Mo:
0.02 | Ni: 0.07 | Sn: 0.010 | V: 0.002 | Cb/Nb: 0.015
____________
Bed frame angle iron:
C: 0.53 | Mn: 0.83 | P: 0.02 | S: 0.02 | Si: 0.19 | Cu: 0.01 | Cr: 0.02 | Mo:
0.005 | Ni: 0.01 | Sn: 0.006 | V: 0.002 | Cb/NB: 0.002
____________
Demolition hammer bit:
C: 0.42 | Mn: 0.70 | P: 0.005 | S: 0.02 | Si: 0.2 | Cu: 0.02 | Cr: 0.02 | Mo:
0.005 | Ni: 0.02 | Sn: 0.004 | V: 0.0 | Cb/NB: 0.002
____________
Tire iron:
C: 0.70 | Mn: 0.75 | P:0.01 | S: 0.01 | Si: 0.23 | Cu: 0.01 | Cr: 0.01 | Mo:
0.002 | Ni: 0.0 | Sn: 0.0 | V: 0.001 | Cb/Nb: 0.0