High or low carbon steel wiper blades?

[Olcaytug]

I had been buying windshild wipers of brand "Champion" and another Italian brand (Aerxo...? something). They cost 14-10 USD for me... But today I came across a few inland wipers, and they were only 3USD in the same twin packages!

But they are a bit more difficult to bend, the material is harder, and they give large amount of bright sparks. Anyway, they have the same springy quality.

The expensive ones bend more easily (and the picks I make as well), very soft for grinding, and give nearly no spark at all.

Which one would be better? Can these cheaper ones be better... like sweeper bristles? I don't want to buy those expensive ones again..

Regards...

[skold]

I would go for the harder and cheaper ones, they are the most common wiper blade pick material, and the softer blades will end up dying on you.

[Shrub]

The brighter the spark the harder the material (using normal wheels).

[Olcaytug]

thanks friends!
Really appreciated...
I can continue to save money

Regards....

[Gear Head]

I normally don't go by the brightness, but the length says alot. Mild steel has long long kinda spikey looking sparks, which are kinda duller. The more carbon the smaller and shorter the sparks are. Good eye.

[Shrub]

But that can be changed by pressing harder on the stone.

[Gear Head]

It should be copper looking sparky lines for the mild steel, more will come out if you press harder, and the carbon will have shorter, you can have a huge pile of sparks either way, but threre is a definate difference, the only homebrew way to judge carbon content that I know of is by the spark length or to harden it and see how easy it shatters when hit.

[mckutzy]

heres a spark test i found, sorry its not in color [url]http://www.answers.com/topic/spark-testing-metals
[/url]

[mckutzy]

pardon me. heres a better one. this explanes the types http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/spark.html[url][/url]

[mckutzy]

u have to copy and paste, i havent learned how to use the url button

[pickin]

pardon me. heres a better one. this explanes the types http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/spark.html[url][/url]

got a page can not be found on this link

[Shrub]

http://shopswarf.orcon.net.nz/spark.html

[pickin]

ok I feel stupid now didnt notice the urls at the end of that link(smacks head)

[SS454]

I use sawz-all blades. They are thicker than hack saw blades. They are really cheap. And they are good quality spring steel.

You just have to get the paint off with a scotchbrite wheel, and cut out your shape. I also usually use an angle grinder to taper the blade portion of the pick.

It makes for a much stronger pick.