Leaf springs for welding projects?

[Joe From NY]

Can anyone advise if leaf spring steel could be used for welding projects? i am changing out my leaf springs and i was wondering if the old springs should be saved for any projects i might be doing in the future. Do the characteristics of that steel make it suitable for welding?

 

[Case IH]

It's most likely spring steel so if you weld it it will become brittle so it depends on what the project is

 

[toymn6366]

i have seen them made into shop stools and porch benches

 

[MoonRise]

Leaf spring steel is typically NOT a'good' steel to weld.

Such steels typically have a mid-to-high(er) carbon content and will have been hardened/tempered/heat-treated in some fashion.

All of which usually means NotGoodForWeldingPurposes.

For general welding of steels, you usually want a plain carbon (low carbon) steel. Welding anything else usually involves more 'specialized' things; different filler metals, different pre and post weld heating requirements, etc, etc.

YMMV.

 

[brianpgriset]

The one thing I can think of that leaf springs are good for is making your own set of sheetmetal slappers. They work great for that, but little to no welding involved!

 

[filtered]

Stock springs from a YJ? Find a guy in your area that owns a Samurai and sell them to him. Or throw them on craigslist.

 

[Ign]

I welded some into a firewood rack with 6011, but it didn't go all that well. Some of the welds had good penetration but still pulled out (thus you can see how deep they penetrated).

Ok for art, bad for structural.

People *have* welded them on the trail before just to get home, but it's a last resort.

 

[Amitygravel]

Is the heat treatment the issue with the arc welding ?

I use coil and leaf springs for forging into knife blades because they are high enough carbon content to harden and temper for edge holding.
1095 which is a higher carbon content than the spring alloy gets used with 203E (a high nickel non hardening alloy ) for forge welding damascus.
Obviously the metals are no where near a hardened state during that process.
They do weld however.

So. Is it the heat treatment of the springs or the welding rod alloy causing the failure ?

Craig

 

[rsanter]

I was going to say hame them into slappers but someone beat me to it.
I really like the idea of selling them if they are worth something

if you want a project you could make one into a big cross bow

bob

 

[Test Tech]

Selling them to a guy with a CJ might also be an option. I've read that its a popular swap due relative ease of installation and softer spring rate/better articulation/nicer ride.

 

[MadMark]

I read once that leaf springs have been ground into Knives in the Phillipines.
I think it was called a bolo knife.

 

[5lima30]

+1 on them making decent knives and machetes! Find a knife maker and you will likely have a buyer. YMMV.

 

[crewchief888]

i paid $25 for a pair of wrangler fronts when i bought the axles i put in my s-10 blazer
junkyard prices are $50-$100 a pair.

 

[SWT Racing]

You could use them or sell them to someone looking to make a helve hammer. Also good for sheetmetal slappers.

If you need to weld on them, preheat them a bit (around 150-200°F) and immediately post weld, cover them in pelletized lime or dry sand. It will help prevent cracking and hydrogen embrittlement.

 

[Rezarf]

They can make decent knives, when worked correctly.

 

[toolman1967]

I have used them to make Knives and Slappers. The slappers can sell for 15-25 bucks to the right bodymen. You get a lot of slappers out of a set of spriings. Never used them for anything structural, not about to try either.

 

[Jzytaruk]

heat and weld with 7018 (or 309L).. it'd remove any heat treatment, but if you arent concerned with that then that stuff will be fine for small projects.