What steel is pallet strapping?

S

SGerman

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Oct 27, 2007
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I saw a post a few days back with some damascus pictured and the maker said it had been made from steel pallet strap. Would anyone happen to know what steel this actually is and it's fitness for making blades?

tia,
Steve
 
Could be anything, but I suspect it is somewhat high-carbon because it has a springy temper to it. I've used 1095 spring steel strips for other things, it LOOKS about the same, but don't quote me on that.

This link says the regular stuff is low-carbon, the heavy duty is high carbon and heat-treated.
 
What is steel pallet strapping? JUNK I've tested lots of it in various widths and thicknesses and it was all junk.
Matt
 
We unpack tons of pallets at work and ALL strapping goes into the garbage. We also recycle every form of metal so if it was worth something I would think it would be put into the correct bins? I will have to take a closer look.
 
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Some of it is junk and some is alright. I bought some from a laminated beam plant that was 1095. I bought a whole roll 250 lbs of it used that one up and bought another. Just check it out if you can find out the company that supplies it call and ask what it is.
 
Right Bill, with just a quick google I found out there's at least 2 grades of it, plus stainless. What grade of stainless, I don't know.

The top grade might be great, only asking and testing will tell.
 
The strapping I use spark tests as high carbon and hardens in oil to a glass like state. Reckon I'll get some tested to know for sure.
For those of you who already have had some tested , I'd be interested to know what it turned out to be.
 
Thanks Matt.
I like using it 'cause it's wide (1 1/4"). Matches up with the bandsaw blade sI get.
 
All pallet strap is NOT created equal. I'm fortunate to work at a company that has a met lab. In 07 I had some pallet strap and band saw blade (bi-metal) analyzed. The results surprized me as I thought both metals would be hi-carbon. It seems I was wrong. The pallet strap turned out to be AISI 1046 medium carbon, the back of the bandsaw blade not the cutting edge (not made in the USA so no AISI available) had an average carbon content of 0.51% also medium carbon. I do have the documentation for this metal analysis.

I've tried hardening some pallet strap and after quench not tempered, you could bend it in half without breaking. Other pallet strap after quench (1046) not tempered, would snap in half after just 10o to 30o or so of bending.

If you want to use it in blades you have to be careful that you have a higher content of carbon.

The pieces of pattern welded pallet strap/bandsaw blade I showed on a previous thread tested up over 59 rockwell C when quenched in "ice water" not tempered. I suspect that I could have gotten a higher rockwell if I'd warmed the water up to around 130oF to 160oF. Neither of the pieced rockwell tested were ground flat so this also affected the test.
 
t blade, warming oil makes a faster quench. Warming water will slow the quench. adding salt to water will speed the quench.
 
Thanks for the info Bill. I believe I'll get most performance with this steel using the fastest quench possible.
 
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