Japanese Sword Steel Types: A Guide to Every Modern Option
Japanese swords have a reputation as some of the finest blades ever made. But the steel they’re made from varies enormously. A $100 wall-hanger and a $500 …
Steel AF
Steel is everywhere. It rusts, it sparks, it bends without breaking — and most of what you think you know about it is wrong.
Latest Posts
Why Does Steel Turn Blue When Heated?
I was drilling through some 1018 steel plates the other day and pulled out a chip that looked like a tiny metallic rainbow — silver at one end, gold in the …
What Is Rust on Steel Made Of? (And Why It Forms)
Rust is one of the most recognizable things in the material world. The flaky, reddish-brown crust on an old fence, a neglected tool, the underside of a car in …
Why Steel Wool Burns (Even Though Steel Doesn't)
Steel handles heat better than almost any common material. You can weld it, forge it, run exhaust gases through it all day long. It doesn’t burn. So why …
4140 vs 4340 Steel: When Does the Upgrade Actually Matter?
If you’ve ever spec’d a part that needs to be strong, tough, and heat-treatable, you’ve probably landed on 4140 or 4340. They’re two of …
The 5 Families of Stainless Steel (And How to Tell Them Apart)
“Stainless steel” isn’t one material. It’s a family of at least five distinct types, each with different properties, different …