52100 for knifemakers

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • flyweightnate
    MCB Member
    • Jul 2020
    • 1854
    • Dallas, TX

    #1

    52100 for knifemakers

    Any blacksmiths or knife makers here?

    I (unintentionally) collect large bearings, which are almost all 52100 / 100Cr6. I sneak them into the trash pretty often but the garbage men don't like the 50lb buckets of steel. Scrap yards give $0.09/lb, even for the good stuff. I'm not loading the truck and driving across town for $26.

    So... if anyone wants 52100, I always have a ton (ok, tens or hundreds of pounds). For the cost of a flat rate plus a few bucks for my time, I can get you several blades worth, whether balls or cylinders or hoops or all three. Just hate to see premium VIMVAR alloys get mixed in with a shredded car.



    EDIT:
    There were some misunderstandings the first time around. I'll be more clear.
    A bearing is made of an inner ring, an outer ring, balls or rollers, and a cage. The rings are large, ring-shaped pieces of steel, typically 52100. I often have bearing rings up to 20" diameter. The cages are soft metals - typically brass, sometimes stamped mild steel or aluminum. I'm collecting the brass. The balls and rollers are solid pieces of 52100, from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball, depending on the bearing.

    If you want just balls or rollers (which seems to be what everyone was going for), I'm gonna charge $5/lb since they're the smallest, easiest-to-store part of the bearing. If you want rings, free plus shipping. Cages will sometimes come with the balls or rollers simply because it's time-intensive to take them off. Bearings are sometimes greasy.
    Last edited by flyweightnate; 07-18-2026, 12:09 PM.
    Feedback
    www.PhrameworkDesigns.com < Nelspot, Sterling, and Phantom parts, plus the occasional big project.
  • StaticShocked
    Certified Feline Herder
    • Jun 2025
    • 347
    • Indiana, USA

    #2
    What size balls are we talking about here? I might be interested in some depending on the size.

    Comment

    • VintageZoomer
      Rockin and Cockin
      • Jan 2024
      • 59

      #3
      Am also curious about the sizes. I'd hate to see good steel get thrown out

      Comment

      • flyweightnate
        MCB Member
        • Jul 2020
        • 1854
        • Dallas, TX

        #4
        Most of the rings are 6-14" diameter, and 1" to 2" diameter balls/ rollers. Some small stuff but not nearly as much.
        Feedback
        www.PhrameworkDesigns.com < Nelspot, Sterling, and Phantom parts, plus the occasional big project.

        Comment

        • StaticShocked
          Certified Feline Herder
          • Jun 2025
          • 347
          • Indiana, USA

          #5
          Those are some good sized balls (Gotta get quoted again for an out of context statement). How much for a 4x 2" balls, 4x 1" balls, and 4x rollers 1 to 2" of the same size? I am not picky of the actual size of any of them, just the same size would be preferred (for each group of four).
          Last edited by StaticShocked; 02-14-2026, 03:23 PM.

          Comment

          • flyweightnate
            MCB Member
            • Jul 2020
            • 1854
            • Dallas, TX

            #6
            I think most of it has been claimed by PM by now... but every month or two, the supply refreshes. (Usually beat to death but if you're melting it down it's all the same...)

            Feedback
            www.PhrameworkDesigns.com < Nelspot, Sterling, and Phantom parts, plus the occasional big project.

            Comment

            • flyweightnate
              MCB Member
              • Jul 2020
              • 1854
              • Dallas, TX

              #7
              Ok, bumping this up as I have more material.

              A note: bearing rings are big, bulky, and annoying to tiptoe around so those are free. People who want just balls or rollers have to pay extra because then I'm still stuck with rings that take up shelf space.
              Feedback
              www.PhrameworkDesigns.com < Nelspot, Sterling, and Phantom parts, plus the occasional big project.

              Comment

              • Spider!
                MCB Member
                • Jul 2020
                • 535
                • Houston

                #8
                I'll take rings! That might get me going again. Last winter was a bust on metal time. Set me up some pretty scrap!
                Feedback

                https://www.mcarterbrown.com/forum/b...der-s-feedback

                Comment

                Working...