Construction Techniques-L6

Composition:
  0.75 % carbon,
  0.7% manganese,
  0.8% chromium,
  0.25% silicon
  0.30% molybdenum
  1.5% nickel

Heat treating characteristics:
   critical temperature =1525 F
   64 Rockwell C as quenched.

Advantages:
  good wear resistance,
  bright color under etching (due to the nickel)
  good flexibility and toughness

Source:
  scavenged from industrial wood cutting band saw blades. Not all blades are L6 so it is critical to verify the composition. In my case, I inadvertently purchased a 24' x 6" wide blade when the local sawer sliced through one of my a live oak logs to discover an 80-year old logging chain deep in the tree. He had the receipt and it listed the composition as L6. With the aid of a friend and his plasma cutter, I now have a life-time supply of 2" x 4" x 0.030" pieces of L6.