Can A36 be spring tempered? If so how well does it perform compared to
5160?
Or should i just keep looking for a local supplier of 5160?
TIA
Scott

In article . com,
"sbrowder" wrote:

Can A36 be spring tempered?

The whole point of A36, as I understand it, is that it is essentially
unhardenable.

Or should i just keep looking for a local supplier of 5160?

That can be either "the side of the road" or "the auto junkyard", or
your friendly neighborhood independent mechanic. The mechanic can be
easiest, as he's generally already pulled them out of the car, as
opposed to you having to do that at the junkyard, and he's throwing away
the generally larger pieces that stayed in the car, as opposed to the
smaller ones that fell beside the road. Might cost you a six-pack of
beverage of choice, might not. Coil springs for round stock, leaf
springs for flat stock. Forge them enough to find any hidden cracks...

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

A36 is a generic mild steel. Does not heat treat. Period. 5160 is a mid
range carbon (.56% to .64%), low alloy steel that will heat treat to a
midrange but not like the high carbon spring steels. If you need 5160,
keep looking.

Check here for the full specs:
http://www.matweb.com/index.asp?ckck=1


sbrowder wrote:
Can A36 be spring tempered? If so how well does it perform compared to
5160?
Or should i just keep looking for a local supplier of 5160?
TIA
Scott