Identify type of steel?

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I have had this knocking around the shop for a few years and don't even remember where it came from.It appears to be something other than mild steel as it still had sharp edges and corners when other piecesof similar vintage are noticeably banged up.  Also the color is brighter with no scale.  A magnet sticks to itjust as strongly as any other steel.It is 1/4" thick, about 30" long and 2 1/2" or so wide.One end appears to have been cut but the other three edges appear finished like the faces.Thought that I would identify it before it gets cut and/or used for somthing?What it is?Gorilla tapeZip tiesJB weld
Reply:Have you ran a spark test on it?
Reply:I have not.  I had forgotten about spark tests having last been shown about them back in high school.Thanks for the reminder, I will attempt this the next time I am in the shop.Is this a good guide to use? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testingGorilla tapeZip tiesJB weld
Reply:My guess is you've got a piece of cold-rolled 1/4" x 2-1/2" flat bar.  But who knows, maybe it could be more exotic...
Reply:I have a dolly that came with my ancient Dialarc 250 welder.  Nice, sharp edges and finish.  Got it from a machinist.  I suspect it is just cold-finished steel back in the day when they actually made nice stuff."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Spark test will help. Just based on the edges, finish, and rust patterns it has a chance of being tool steel of one form or another.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:I like this more than wikipedia.http://www.scrapmetaljunkie.com/241/...sting-metals-2Since it is most likely steel that website has got good pics and info.
Reply:There are hand held devices that test metal composition.  Albeit the devices are expensive, you could find a metal finisher that has a device and ask them to test it for you.  My shoo doesn't charge people on the rare occasion someone walks through the door with an unknown piece of metal.  Within seconds, the metal,composition will be identified.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Sharp edge and perfect 90° corner doesn't mean that the piece have been machined, if you are a little familiar with ''time saver sanders'' and that kind of belt sander that people use in polishing departement to polish stainless flat bar and stuff you can make it with any kind of metal! to me its look like a standard pieces of steel that have been chrome plated, its look like a piece that was a part of ''manufacturing'' machine, furniture, or anything else!Spark test could be good, but if you want to grind it a little to see the spark, grind it enough to clean one of the two ends, and try to cut it with oxy torch!Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:Cold rolled 1018 maybe.  It'll have that hard edge, without the mill scale you'd see on hot rolled.  I have been using this stuff more lately for brackets for some of my tig welded automotive products.-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup