What steel for a custom splitter blade?

[Stubby]

Thanks Matt.

 

Yes did try them but the only thing they suggested was some tool steel which I presume would be too brittle.

 

Depends on how its heat treated . The impax I suggested is a mould tool steel that is abrasion resistant and tough . Used in injection moulds that use glass filled plastics .

[difflock]

Sad basket that I can be.

From the stolen John Neeman Axe post I followed the link to the John Neeman site and thence via "Elmax" to the Swedish tool steel producers site.

Proper "technoporn"

Very clearly laid out in laymans English.

Fascinating stuff.

[timberdelf]

i used of all things a cutter blade from a straw bailing machine..lol...works a treat and hard wearing

[farmer rod]

i used of all things a cutter blade from a straw bailing machine..lol...works a treat and hard wearing

 

similar to above, perhaps a tougher steel would be a subsioler leg, theres usually one for sale at any farm auction, or any Ag dealers yard would be worth a try. Subsoilers have a replaceable wearing part call the shin which comes already the right shape, as opposed to a one bevel shape like a baler knife

[AHPP]

Sad basket that I can be.

From the stolen John Neeman Axe post I followed the link to the John Neeman site and thence via "Elmax" to the Swedish tool steel producers site.

Proper "technoporn"

Very clearly laid out in laymans English.

Fascinating stuff.

 

Link please.

[difflock]

Powder metallurgical stainless steel | Vanax Elmax for corrosion resistant hunting knives, tactical knives, hunting knives

or

Neemantools

cheers

m

[Breezeblock]

or do it with mild steel and run some hard facing down the edge and dress it back with a grinder to an edge

[Ryan]

Im not sure why you need anything harder than mild steel. The axe on mine is made from 15mm thick plate approx 200mm square. I sharpened it along one edge and then along the top edge welded 50mm angle to help spread the log apart. Ive had my splitter about 5 years now and never had to re dress or sharpen the axe although I only split about 50m3 a year. If you wanted something harder just get your blacksmith to harden and temper ordinary mild steel with a simple heating and cooling process.

[farmer rod]

or do it with mild steel and run some hard facing down the edge and dress it back with a grinder to an edge

 

 

I suspect that even 30 mm mild steel would succumb to the bending forces involved in log splitting, depending on the Ram size of course and the expected duty cycle. Far better to go for EN24 which is as tough as old boots.

 

EN24T Flat & Round - Delivered Nationwide by West Yorkshire Steel Co Ltd

[Stubby]

Im not sure why you need anything harder than mild steel. The axe on mine is made from 15mm thick plate approx 200mm square. I sharpened it along one edge and then along the top edge welded 50mm angle to help spread the log apart. Ive had my splitter about 5 years now and never had to re dress or sharpen the axe although I only split about 50m3 a year. If you wanted something harder just get your blacksmith to harden and temper ordinary mild steel with a simple heating and cooling process.

 

You can't harden and temper mild steel with a " simple heating and cooling process " . There is not enough carbon in it . You can case harden by heating to cherry red and dipping in carbon cranuals then quenching but that is only skin deep . Better to use a proper tool steel with a higher carbon content .