Weird question

Post by **matt993fod** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:52 pm

Does anyone have an inkling as to what EXACT grade of steel was used in the leaf springs used in the Minor from the factory?

Besides owning a moggy, I am also a blacksmith, and I have a mind to recycle some knackered minor leaf springs and forge them into chisels, sets, axe heads, scrapers, knives and other such tools. These tools will need heat treatment to work properly, so need to know what the grade of steel is so I can get some heat treatment specs and do it properly.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:03 pm

Cool.

Is blacksmithing your day-job or a hobby?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:49 pm

Brilliant! Spring steel makes excellent blades. A couple of my favourite historical blacksmiths use it. Not sure about specs of Minor leaf springs though.

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:12 am

The man who sells THESE on ebay actually buys them from the manufacturer. He is very helpful I'm sure he'd find out for you. He is only a sole trader - usually they are more cooperative than the big boys.

Post by **Matt** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:02 am

automotive leaf springs are often EN47

Post by **Alec** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:50 pm

Hello Alex,

"Cool. icon_smile.gif Is blacksmithing your day-job or a hobby?"

Cool?, have you ever been in a forge Alex?

Alec

Post by **matt993fod** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:04 pm

Hobby with day job connotations. I forge useful little tools, uensils and pretty things, and sell them through a few local concerns. It is SUPERB fun. I love it.

Many thanks, Matt. EN47 is an oil quenching, high chromium spring steel. Probably a bit brittle for most tools, but at least I know what I am likely to be dealing with.

Are you sure that is what they would have used back when my minor was put together, though? Thing is, I changed the springs for some new ones, and it is the old ones I am using to forge tools from. Would they have used EN47 back in the day?

Post by **kennatt** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:11 am

matt you may be able to help. I have a windsurfing centre and the lake chokes up with weed and as a result we cut it with a cutter blade dragged behind a power boat. The cutter is a two bladed tool made up of 5 foot long by 4 inch by 16th spring steel.I have tried to obtain some new lenghts of steel of this size and have failed to find a supplier. We tried the thinest we could get which was about an 8th like a car spring we had it sharpened and tempered(Which it needs to be to stop it becoming permanently bent in use).This thickness is too thick,the blade need to be thin since the orginal is in a vee format and when travelling in a circle one side aquaplanes and drives and holds the other deep in the water which is where we need to cut. The thicker steel just drags behind the boat and is'nt very efficient.Have you any idea where I could find a suppliers of spring grade steel of about 16th inch thick,Tried stainless as well but again twists too much and dos'nt seem to hold a sharp edge like spring steel.Just a chance you may know Cheer and compliments of the season to you all out there

Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:54 pm

Sorry im not sure if the leaf springs are made from EN47 - I just know that its used for some automotive leafsprings.

Sorry Kennat - no idea where you can get the stuff