I have just imported a quantity (100kg or so) of tool steel from overseas.
They are supposed to be L6 tool steel for knife making.
They arrived last Friday after 2 weeks wait.

The supplier has been a bit slow in providing datasheet for the metal,
so it is only today i received the info.

Aaand, the specs that they gave me do not point to AISI L6 steel, it is AISI H13 instead..
The difference is a 6 HRC at its maximum hardness, and, it is no longer the "ultimate steel" that I want.
Now the goddam supplier refuses to acknowledge that he gave me the wrong steel,
and the cost of returning the steel is more than the cost of the steel due to Australian Post that are ultra greedy.


AAARRRGGGHHH...
Sorry, just want to vent off a bit..

gelandangan,
If there is somplace local you can have the steel tested it may be worth it. You might have been sent the wrong datasheet and the right steel.
If it is the wrong steel then make some Damascus blades using old hack-saw blades or files with the new steel. Fold it over 20 times or more and you will have some fair blades.

do you have a small claims court???
the threat of legal action maybe what is needed to get results.

Gelan, I agree with both Paul and Elvis...depending on the results of testing mate.

Have the steel tested, in fact you might be able to get the supplier to test it for you, that way they can see the results for themselves. If the testing proves it is the wrong steel, then the Small Claims Court might just be an option. Another option is to find someone on the Bladeware Forum who might be able to make use of the steel.

Paul's idea of using old hacksaw blades for Damascus steel is a good one mate, and I would be looking for machine hacksaw blades or maybe bandsaw blades for steel cutting.

I am sending a small piece for it to be spectograph tested.
It cost quite a bit but I am after peace of mind.

One thing about H13 is that they are created to be HARD when HOT.
So damascus with it may not happen that easily.

I have made a few damascus steel in the last few weeks, I have no problem welding common carbon steel,
but high alloy such as the H13 would be difficult.

The bad thing is that I have advertised and sold a few bars of the wrong stuff, now I feel really bad for misleading my customers.

GODDAM!

Oh yeah, one more thing, there is no small claims court for overseas purchases.
Which is suck.
Then again, I tried to same some $$ buy direct imports, now it looks like maybe its better to buy it at 5x the cost in Oz,
at least I'll be getting what I wanted,

Where/who is the supplier? Might be useful info for others.

well it is some Chinese supplier, I'll put their name here in a few days if things do not settle favorably.

If you paid by CC then you could contact your CC company & dispute the payment (Goods not as described/agreed).
If all else fails, slam them in every place you can & send the buggers links to the posts.

Will do, definitely.

Buying anything from China is a crap shoot at best. Sorry to hear that you apparently got shafted. If it makes you feel any better many others have experienced the total lack of business ethics that is rampant in that country. Even if you had asked for a sample you would likely have been sent the right stuff and then received the wrong in the full shipment.

H13 survives heat, but it is weldable, and can be hot forged, just needs to be forged at around 1800-1900*F if I remember correctly.

It has about half the Chromium as Stainless Steel, and the nice thing with it is that it is ductile under stress, so rather then chip, it tends to deflect and come back to position, which is why its used as a hot work tool steel as most tool steels are brittle and in heat the brittleness allows steels to chip even easier, due to the stress of the heat inside its internal structure.

Dimitri

Based on 'Mitri's description, I can see benefits in using this steel for knife blades...large bladed knives come to mind. Of course this is dependant on the steel being able to take and maintain a good working edge.

Well, WOOHOOOOO!!!

After a few days of bickering, I was offered some real L6 by the supplier for FREE including shipment to me.
I will not get refund, but I will get at least partial of the steel I want AND i get to keep the H13.

Okay.. there is light at the end of tunnel after all.

Good stuff Gelan. There is obviously a market for the H13 otherwise it wouldn't be manufactured. How much L6 are they sending mate?

Vince mate, would you believe H-13 is actually more expensive than L6?
They are very difficult to obtain in small quantity and
are favorite for blacksmiths to make punch and tools because they are very tough even when used in high heat.

Either way i am today a happy man.