Are keeper bars 1018 or 1022?

[Joe Gwinn]

maybe something like 1010? thats quite low.....maybe that would be closer to "electrical iron"?

The smaller the number (the last two digits), the less carbon in the alloy, and the closer to electrical iron one is. The metal is also noticably softer.

[Possum]

why no 1022?

I ordered some 1018 slug size bar and some for the keepers, why is it none of these companies list 1022 in bar stocks? What grade is the stuff you get at Lowes hardware or Ace? I ordered through Speedy Metals online the only place I could find that had both round and rectangular on one site, and no "cutting fee."

[NightWinder]

I've noticed with the 1022, 1018 screws for instance, are quite hard. The slots stay intact without chewing, as compared to other softer types that chew quite easily. A lower carbon Keeper can make sense and would be a little easier to machine with minimal tooling, helping with accuracy if you are getting bar stock. 1010....i would'nt think that would be too soft. Maybe you could bend it in half with a good fair amount of pressure by hand, but would still be quite firm? Im sure there is carbon in electrical.

[David King]

The overpriced crap they sell at HD and Lowes is probably A36. Maybe Joe can tell us the difference between 1018 and A36, they seem pretty close to me.

[NightWinder]

Does anyone know how many points of carbon are in electrical iron? that may help narrow down a search for material.

[David King]

Does anyone know how many points of carbon are in electrical iron? that may help narrow down a search for material.

Nightwinder a google search of the term "electrical iron" reveals that you are the only person on the planet using that term. What the heck are you talking about?

[NightWinder]

Nightwinder a google search of the term "electrical iron" reveals that you are the only person on the planet using that term. What the heck are you talking about?

Cartec sells "Electrical Iron". Under that term. They also state the Nom Analisis. I have yet to figure the it out, thats why I posted it, maybe Joe would know? I'm not the only one who uses that term, check out the old forum pages, as I was corredted for using the term "soft Iron". Have you heard of that?

[David King]

Again I apologize, I shouldn't trust google so much. As far as I can figure out from reading the crap at wikipedia, you've got your "soft permeable magnetic materials" and "hard magnetic" materials. I know what you're talking about but I was just unfamiliar with your terminology. I'm not sure carbon content is the only factor in determining permeability. Why don't we read through this wikipedia page and try agree on terms...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeab...romagnetism%29

[David King]

Perhaps "transformer iron" is an acceptable term?

Here's another article on soft magnetic materials
http://www.key-to-steel.com/Articles/Art78.htm

[NightWinder]

I was'nt hip to the term either until Joe corrected me, as he knew what I was looking for .....No worries brother. I think we may have to agree to the transformer iron...LOL

[Joe Gwinn]

Perhaps "transformer iron" is an acceptable term?

No. Transformer iron is silicon steel (intended for 60-Hz transformers), which is not the same thing as electrical iron (intended for DC-powered magnets).

[Joe Gwinn]

The overpriced crap they sell at HD and Lowes is probably A36. Maybe Joe can tell us the difference between 1018 and A36, they seem pretty close to me.

I think hardware store stuff is generally 1018 or so.

A36 steel is approximately 1025 (thin sections, 3/4" or so) to 1029 (3" or more). You are not likely to run into A36 in a hardware store.

Electrical iron is approximately 1002.

[NightWinder]

1002? Holy shit. Thats soft stuff. Surely they could'nt make screws with that!! Shit, even keeper bars? Man, that would be like Lead almost would.nt it, or damn near a tiny step higher. Are you sure it has that low of carbon? Soft Iron...That makes me think that would be much harder, 1018 maybe.
I bet using electrical iron would be like having a magnet right under the strings....

[Joe Gwinn]

1002? Holy shit. Thats soft stuff. Surely they could'nt make screws with that!! Shit, even keeper bars? Man, that would be like Lead almost would.nt it, or damn near a tiny step higher. Are you sure it has that low of carbon? Soft Iron...That makes me think that would be much harder, 1018 maybe.

I have a specsheet from one of the makers, and I got the 0.02% from that specsheet. Actually it's a standard alloy.

One can buy deadblow hammers with heads of pure iron, and you are right - it handles like lead, only not as dense.

I bet using electrical iron would be like having a magnet right under the strings....

Not really much worse than 1018.

[PoorMan]

Full-on newb here....greetings, all.

So how do you know what your are getting? None of the online vendors I've seen list the material.