Grinder grading of steel? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

DUG · 01-17-2008, 08:03 AM

At one point and time I found, somewhere, an article about using a grinder to determine the grade of steel you have but I can not seem to find it searching either here or google. Anybody have a good link to one? I have a bunch of pins and I want to get an idea of what they are made of so I can decide if they will be strong enough for something stupid.

guidolyons · 01-17-2008, 09:31 AM

Google "steel spark test"

http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/spark.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing_metals

DUG · 01-17-2008, 10:50 AM

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. I had the wrong words in there...

solarpower · 01-17-2008, 03:37 PM

Having another piece of steel that you "know about" helps to compare the spark types.

I only say this cause I have ground ALOT of types of steel, and those pictures and terms that were linked on those pages are easy for me to understand, but if I was a newb it would all seem very similar.

The differences are actually quite subtle.

I would tell a less experienced person to compare steel pins and their strength by putting them in a chop saw with abrasive wheel and cutting them all the way through. You won't have to look at sparks to get a fairly accurate idea of it's strength quickly. Again, compare it to something you "know" about.

adampfisters · 01-17-2008, 04:30 PM

I agree with solarpower
"the welders handbook" goes through this as well, that could have been where you saw it

FF3PM · 01-17-2008, 09:47 PM

You should use a clean or virgin grinding wheel. Any residual metal from other uses might spark off and give an erroneous spark pattern.
I agree it takes some practice to be able to correctly identify steel using s spark test.

01-17-2008, 08:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
DUG Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 858 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,106	Grinder grading of steel? At one point and time I found, somewhere, an article about using a grinder to determine the grade of steel you have but I can not seem to find it searching either here or google. Anybody have a good link to one? I have a bunch of pins and I want to get an idea of what they are made of so I can decide if they will be strong enough for something stupid. __________________ Be yourself, by yourself.

01-17-2008, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
DUG Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 858 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,106	Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. I had the wrong words in there... __________________ Be yourself, by yourself.

01-17-2008, 03:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
solarpower Wheeler Join Date: May 2005 Member # 47722 Location: Toledo O-H-I-O Posts: 253	Having another piece of steel that you "know about" helps to compare the spark types. I only say this cause I have ground ALOT of types of steel, and those pictures and terms that were linked on those pages are easy for me to understand, but if I was a newb it would all seem very similar. The differences are actually quite subtle. I would tell a less experienced person to compare steel pins and their strength by putting them in a chop saw with abrasive wheel and cutting them all the way through. You won't have to look at sparks to get a fairly accurate idea of it's strength quickly. Again, compare it to something you "know" about. __________________ Professional Driver. Closed course.

01-17-2008, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
adampfisters Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Member # 77424 Location: Dublin, CA Posts: 1,037	I agree with solarpower "the welders handbook" goes through this as well, that could have been where you saw it __________________ Any Seven Offroad

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01-17-2008, 09:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
FF3PM Rock God Join Date: Apr 2005 Member # 46229 Posts: 1,045	You should use a clean or virgin grinding wheel. Any residual metal from other uses might spark off and give an erroneous spark pattern. I agree it takes some practice to be able to correctly identify steel using s spark test.