1074 spring steel

[Steve Voigt]

I just got an almost-free piece of 1074, so i thought i would ask. Has anybody tried using this stuff for saw plates or scrapers? Obviously 1095 is the usual, but this is what i have.
Thanks in advance

-Steve

[george wilson]

1074 steel is a lower grade of spring steel,having .074% carbon. The 1095 has .095% carbon. 1074 is used for springs primarily,but can be used for knives or saws ,though it won't hold an edge as long as 1095. I expect that many of the prized old Disstons and others were really made of 1074,or something close. This is because those old saws are always easier to file than the 1095 saws not being made by small makers of premium saws.

I think you'll be fine using it for saws our scrapers. And,you can't knock the price!!

[Steve Voigt]

Thanks George, that's really great info!

-Steve

[Larry Frank]

I think that what George meant is that the 1074 has 0.74% carbon and the 1095 has 0.95% carbon. The 1074 will typically have a little more manganese than the 1095.

[george wilson]

Thanks Frank!! Senior moment.