bandsaw steel

[Roughcountry]

I've got a peice of bandsaw blade from a sawmill and wondered what kind of steel it might be.
The piece is 8" by 4 ft and a bit ove 1/8 thick. It's still pretty polished but has rust spots so must not be stainless.
Thanks for any help, guesses are welcome. RS

[skullworks]

L6 Usually I think.

[bbassi]

8"wide? DANG that's a big bandsaw blade. You must have some awful big trees up there.

[Todd Robbins]

It's probably 15N20, which is basicly 1075 with 2% nickel added.  It's really tough stuff, but not really the best for edge holding.  It's real easy to sharpen, though, and easy to heat treat, as well.  I've never seen a bandsaw blade that tested as L6.  Some of the older round sawmill blades do, tnough.

Todd

[Bobby Urban]

All my research has shown that band saw blades are made from L6 - at least that is what I have read on the net?  Todd's post makes me wonder?  I like to use band saw blades and banding strap to make damascus billets so I really hope it is L6?

Bob Urban

[kbaknife]

I, too, agree that it is most likely 15N20 from Uddeholm.
That's a big enough piece that it would be worthwhile to have analyzed!

[Todd Robbins]

With 2% nickel, bandsaw blade material works great in damascus, as it etches lighter than simple 10xx steels or O-1.  Not the best choice to mix with O-1, though, for other reasons.  L6 is the best match for O-1.

Todd

[Roughcountry]

I think this peice came from our local sawmill and is a little over 8" wide if you count the teeth.
I did cut a small peice from it with a dremel for a scraper. Seems to work well enough, got two bows done with it.

I'm waiting for a buddy with a plasma cutter to get done chasing elk around so I can cut more.

Thanks for the replys guys.