Concrete nails?

Will52100

Will52100

Joined
Dec 4, 2001
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Anybody know what cut concrete nails are made from? I sent an inquiry off to Griprite, they haven't answered yet. I've got an idea of putting a bunch of them in a canister and doing a powder damascus billet. I know they've got enough carbon to harden, did a quick test on one. Sparks seem pretty close to 1084, I'm thinking it's a 1070-1080 steel and that I'll probably have to add a little nickel powder to the 1084 powder to get much of a contrast. Don't know when I'll find time to do it, but seems like an interesting project. Not sure what coating they have on them, says there not for treated lumber or anything, hopefully they will at least tell me what the coating is, even if it's just oxide from heat treat.
 
You can cook the coating off in the forge before you set them up in the can. Or give them an acid bath for a day or three.

Not sure about the alloy, but I'd be inclined to think they are a pretty stout alloy with a high manganese content for toughness. I think they'd do well as a can weld all things considered.
 
Could be a neat project, but you'll have to get the coating stripped off first I would think. I guess that depends on the individual nail manufacturer. If you do it and it turns out nicely, please send me a pic of the results.
 
I saw broken drill bits and ball bearings in a powder billet. It was called "Bacteria". Looked like coccus and bacillus under the scope.
 
Thanks, the guy that did the fish hooks kinda give me the idea, especially after seeing someone who made gravers and chisels from the larger cut concrete nails. It'll be a while before I can get to it, but I've got a couple of them I've been playing with. May just rig up a bucket and sand blast them, but probably the easiest would be to burn them in the forge before putting in a can.

I'm wondering how much pattern I'd get with just 1084 powder, may have to try that just to see. If it's too subtle I may mix some nickel powder in with it next time.
 
No idea about the alloy and I've never done anything with them myself, but I know that Tai Goo has made carving palm chisels from them.
 
Not sure, the spark test looked almost exactly like 1084. Might be a 1070...What ever it is I wouldn't bet on anything high alloy.
 
Hi Will,

Was wondering if you'd heard back from Griprite, as I'd entertained a similar idea a while back. I have some cut masonry nails manufactured by Tremont Nail Co. (the folks that make nails for Maze) and was able to determine through correspondence with one of their production managers that they use AISI 1030. Was wondering if Griprite possibly used something with a little higher carbon content.
 
Still haven't heard from them. I did do a quench test and it showed a fine grain and broke easily. I'm thinking from he spark test and the way it broke after hardening that it's a 1070ish steel. It's got some sort of coating, I tried soaking in diluted ferric chloride and no rust yet.
 
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