Author Topic: Mystery metal (Read 1251 times)

Double D · « **on:** January 18, 2010, 02:27:14 PM »

Southpaw and I spent the afternoon rescuing a piece of mystery metal. The metal was main axle of a giant oven rotisserie like they have in super markets. The axle is 8 feet long and 2 11/16" in diameter. At each end was 4 spoke cast iron fitting the held rotating oven trays. The spokes were about 4 feet in diameter.

Ernie's 16 lb sledge made quick work of the spokes and with bit more work I was able to drive the keyed hubs off the shaft. I beat the hub of trying to be careful to not whack and dent the axle. Even though I was careful I still hit the axle, but it didn't make a mark. When I got it home I checked it with a file and hacksaw and it did cut.

Both ends have machine key ways and and reliefs for dives and pulleys. It also had a welded repair on one end.

The sledge hammer Ernie brough, is one of those progressive hammers...you know the ones that get progressively heavier and heavier as you swing it. Started at 16 lbs progressed toat least a hunnert by time we were done.

Anybody want to speculate what kind of steel we might have?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2010, 02:30:10 PM »

What do the sparks (from grinding it) look like ?

That will tell you lots about carbon content.

Soot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2010, 02:50:36 PM »

Maybe a hardness tester would help.

I found a piece of metal in the trash 2 weeks ago that I thought was brass, so I threw it in my scrap bin.
It was pretty dirty and I hadn't examined it closely until today. Something wasn't right with the color, so I cleaned it up.
Nope, not brass, 18.2 oz. of silver.
Spot value of scrap silver today made it worth just over $300.00
Not a bad day dumpster diving.

intoodeep · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:00:22 PM »

I would guess, that, if it was used for commercial foods it would be stainless. But, it's just a guess....

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:04:39 PM »

Didn't try grinding yet, at 8 feet and 150 pounds it's kind of awkward to hold up top the grinder.

Soot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:08:11 PM »

Try a magnet.

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:16:31 PM »

Magnetic and spark test says medium carbon.

GGaskill · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:25:12 PM »

Cut off a small piece and see if you can heat treat it (make it hard.)

dan610324 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:06:19 PM »

there is no problem hardening an unknown steel

the problem comes when you should aneal it to get it useable ,

GGaskill · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:14:52 PM »

there is no problem hardening an unknown steel

If it gets hard, there is at least .4% or so carbon; if not, it's more like mild steel.

Double D · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:21:54 PM »

Heat red and drop in oil, think that will do it?

GGaskill · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:52:01 PM »

That should do for a first try. If it doesn't get hard, heat red and drop in water.

Heat for one hour per inch of thickness (presumably the piece will not be very thick.)

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2010, 05:44:01 PM »

Quote from: GGaskill on January 18, 2010, 04:52:01 PM

That should do for a first try. If it doesn't get hard, heat red and drop in water.

Heat for one hour per inch of thickness (presumably the piece will not be very thick.)

An hour!!! I don't think South paw has that much gas to hold the torch on it.

GGaskill · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2010, 07:18:05 PM »

So don't cut off a piece an inch thick.

The thickness used for the time is the thinnest dimension.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:37:57 AM »

You could always cut off 15 or 20 inches and send it to Armorer77 for destructive testing......... If he can't blow it up nobady can!

Double D · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:27:05 AM »

Quote from: KABAR2 on January 19, 2010, 03:37:57 AM

You could always cut off 15 or 20 inches and send it to Armorer77 for destructive testing......... If he can't blow it up nobady can!

Yeah, but he doesn't work cheap!

Double D · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2010, 06:33:11 AM »

This axle is the center axle of a large rotating bakery oven. Much of its life is it spent heated to baking temepratures. 300-350 degrees.

Does that mean anything?

GGaskill · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2010, 09:17:48 AM »

This axle is the center axle of a large rotating bakery oven. Much of its life is it spent heated to baking temperatures. 300-350 degrees. Does that mean anything?

That is too cool to effect any heat treatment the piece might have had.

Double D · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2010, 07:45:37 AM »

Mystery solved!!

This just in from the Paul Reed oven company!

Quote

The main shaft is a c1018 tgp mild steel, and the 4 arm castings are cast iron

Southpaw we can start planning cannons out of that stuff!!

carronader · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2010, 08:38:28 AM »

yup ! somebody needs to get your wife to sew up bottom couple of inches of your pockets.........only way you gonna part with those coins. No hope left for the wallet............was superglued years back.

grymster · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2010, 07:06:07 AM »

I've yet to build a cannon, but seems to me that 1018 would be good stuff. I've found it very easy to machine and takes a nice finish. IIRC, its tensile strength runs ~65K psi. Nice find!