is there a 'bush mechanics' way of testing the hardness of steel?

[ozy clint]

a friend is getting me some spring steel that i want to make into trade points. is there a 'bush mechanics' (i love using those two words together    :cool:      :cool:  ) way of testing the rockwell hardness of steel of unknown quality?

[WESTBROOK]

I believe there is only one way to know the Rockwell of a steel.

As far as blades, a lot of old school knife makers spoke of "hard enough that a new file will just barely bite in".

Eric

[ron w]

If a file "skates across with no bite its rc 60 or harder. If you can file sharpen it is most likely 54rc or softer. I was a toolmaker for 38 years and have flame hardened all kinds of sutff.

[LC]

I believe there are a set of files specifically to do what your after. You lightly slide each file over the metal till one starts taking grip. Not sure of the price though.

[John Nail]

also, harder steel has a sharper "ring" when tapped with a hammer

[Old York]

Don't different hardnesses emit different types of spark patterns, when one grinds a steel with a bench grinder?


Oz, you'd need a currant bush for running a bench grinder out in the boonies though...  :D

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Spark pattern is also carbon related., more carbon finer spark.
Ron has it right.. I'll add that a file will bite pretty good up to 48 approx. above that the bite is considerably less, but it will still cut.. and as he said over 54-55 the file will just slide over it.
From another old tool maker.

[Dave Bulla]

You tool guys... How much difference does the condition of the file make?  I like to keep my files in pretty darned good shape but I've seen plenty of files in tool boxes and on work benches that looked awfully worn out.  I'd guess you are strictly talking about using new or "as new" condition files????

[Ragnarok Forge]

Hi there,  

I am a bladesmith and the best way to test for high or low carbon content in the field is to heat the end of a piece to nonmagnetic, quench it in oil or water and then hit it with a hammer or hard rock.  High carbon steel will break off easily and have very small grain ( as in to small to see ).  Spring steel is most often in the 60 carbon series.  I would guess that it might be 5160.  One thing if it is an old spring steel from a car spring it may well have a bunch of micro cracks that will show up when you try to forge a knife out of it.