Spark Testing Metal Video

I was messing around with different metals, seeing what the sparks look like. Trying to calibrate my eye. I took some still pictures and video.

I find it interesting how with the plain (10xx) series of steels there is a direct correlation between the carbon content and amount and intensity of sparks and branching, and with a tool steel like O1 there is also a high carbon content but the alloying makes the sparks less intense and different colored.

Charlie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2Fw...1&feature=plcp

Good reference material for the home shop kinda guy. Before metal spectroscopy, there was always some very experienced fellow on the industrial shop floor that knew this stuff. It's a great way to estimate what unknown material you are working.

Each maker should keep some samples of known materials in a kit on their bench. It makes it much easier to compare sparks to the unknowns.

Awesome Charlie.
i do not know how you find so much time to share and teach so well, but i am grateful you do.
Thanks Mate,
Adam