How to Determine Cold-Rolled Steel
Cold rolling identifies a particular steel production process. This process involves rolling steel in a cool state between sets of rollers spaced at progressively smaller distances apart. Since the steel is formed cold, this process is used primarily for more ductile, low-carbon steels such as 1018 and 1020 steel. The easiest way to determine a low carbon steel, and therefore a cold-rolled steel, is using a technique called the spark test. Every family of steel grades produces a specific form of spark when placed against a grinding wheel. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Dim the light in a work shop or garage. Start the grinding wheel on a medium speed. Higher speeds should be used for fine stones while a slower speed is appropriate for rougher stones.
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Place a sample of the steel in question against the stone with steady pressure until a steady stream of sparks appears.
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Reference the sparks against a reference chart. Cold-rolled, or mild, steel should produce sparks with a yellow color and with additional sparking at the end of the streak before they expire. Higher-carbon steel, usually hot rolled, produces shorter streaks with a more dull color.
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Tips & Warnings
A piece of reference steel is useful for comparing the sparks. By analyzing the known steel, it is easier to determine the steel in question.
Proper eyewear and gloves are necessary to prevent injury from the sparks.
References
Resources
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