saw blade

catfishon · February 17, 2008, 08:01:00 PM

was wondering if i could use this without heat treating it ? it's a saw mill bandsaw blade, 12" wide . it has carbide teeth so im wondering if the steel is hard enough or not ???

wsm coyote · February 17, 2008, 08:55:00 PM

Hey Catfish, those tips on that saw are not carbide, they're stellite. It's softer than carbide. As for the steel, it's probably Uddeholm 15n20(swedish L6). The rockwell hardness for most bandsaw steel is in the low 50's. They can't be too hard or they will crack like crazy when you run them. I've been a sawfiler for 12 years and welded more than my share of cracks in saws just like that one.
It will make a fair knife left untreated, but an excellent blade if treated. Saw Filer
BTW Does anybody here know how to change a handle?

catfishon · February 17, 2008, 09:09:00 PM

whats the easiest way to treat without a forge and minimal tools ???

RGK · February 17, 2008, 10:17:00 PM

WOW!. Thats a great blade. How thick is it?

catfishon · February 17, 2008, 10:22:00 PM

not real thick ,i think less than 1/8"
but should make a few knives.

wsm coyote · February 18, 2008, 12:04:00 AM

It's probably either 14 gauge (.083) or what we call split gauge (.078) I take a torch and slowly heat the edge half of the blade to a cherry red, ( just hot enough a magnet won't stick to it) Hold it there for a few seconds and quinch it in 130- 150 degree oil. A file shouldn't cut it. If it does, do it again cause you didn't get it hot enough. Make sure your oil is hot also, it won't work as well if it's cool. Once you have it tempered, stick it in your kitchen oven for 1 hour @ 400 degrees. It will be WAY, WAY better than untreated.

catfishon · February 18, 2008, 12:42:00 AM

thanks,only thing i've used so far is really hard saw blades used to cut steel . they make great knives but are hard on tools while making them.

Lin Rhea · February 19, 2008, 05:23:00 AM

Catfishon,
I just want to second what wsm coyote says. I belive the larger size band saw blades are L-6. As far as oil goes, a good veggie oil is less flammable and will do fine, but like coyote says, heat it up to about 150f.
This stuff makes a good filet knife.

Lin

wsm coyote · February 19, 2008, 09:55:00 AM

Hey Catfish, those osage handled knives you looked at on PA were made from that same kind of blade. They also make a good skinning knife too. Saw Filer