Unknown steel identification

[WhoWhatNow]

I have a chunk of steel I want to use for a project. I will be machining and welding this piece. Although it is mildly rusted, the clean surfaces have a very shinny surface. I am thinking it is some type of tool steel. How can I determine if it is machinable and weldable before I put ton of time into the project? It throws bright orange sparks when hit with a grinder.

 

[pamike]

Higher carbon steel will have more of a star burst type spark vs a low carbon mild steel where the sparks are more straight line. I would compare the sparks to a known metal. You really shouldnt have any issue machining unless its a very high carbon steel. You can weld higher carbon steel its just more prone to cracking.

 

[bwringer]

What, you don't have a mass spectrometer in your kitchen next to the microwave?

If you want to know how it will machine and weld, experimentation might be the easiest, fastest way forward. Slice off a few chunks and, well, try machining and welding them.

 

[alfadan]

I really doubt a bar like that is any kind of alloy steel. How thick is it? If its not plain ol' hot rolled I'll eat my hat.

 

[MoonRise]

What, you don't have a mass spectrometer in your kitchen next to the microwave?

Nah, x-ray fluorescence or XRF detector.

Handheld XRF Basics

An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) is an instrument used for elemental analysis of a variety of different materials.

www.bruker.com

From your pic, it -looks- like plain low carbon steel from the spark pattern. High carbon or alloy type steels with high(er) carbon usually show a forking/branching spark trail, but low carbon steel show more of a straight 'single' spark pattern and not multiple-branching spark trails.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Sounds like the answer is just get cutting.

Thanks guys, this put my mind at ease.

Although we do have mass specs at work….

 

[Monza Harry]

Your first picture shows the finish of what appears to me to be CRS (cold rolled steel). Typically the same/similar composition as the CRS, just CRS is more crack prone (because of surface tension IIRC) while bending if insufficient heating is used for forming (intentional or not)! Harry

 

[goldtang]

Agree with the cold rolled steel, grab a hand file and see if you can file it
if it can be filed you can machine / drill it

 

[Sweetcorn]

It certainly looks like cold rolled steel. There are quite a few steel compositions available in CRS form, but I'd be comfortable treating it as generic CRS until it reacted in some way when contrary to that when machining/welding.
It's not hot rolled, that has scale.
I'd treat it like CRS and carry on.