Why was steel of decades ago so much better quality than today?

[MossRoad]

If you want real steel figure out what that old steel pillar in India was made from.

I wonder what it was in its previous life?

 

[DFB]

Plating used on bolts or just about any parts was so much better back in the days of toxic heavy metals

Even the processes used to cut screws and bolt threads has changed considerably...machine pressing is now the norm

 

[k0ua]

I wonder what it was in its previous life?

Apparently a high level of phosphorous is at least a significant factor in the pillar over in India.

 

[DFB]

I wonder what it was in its previous life?

Reincarnation?

 

[MossRoad]

Reincarnation?

...

 

[ultrarunner]

Just about impossible to get good cadmium plating around here... I use to take a coffee of bolts and for $15 have them plated...

 

[Egon]

There is lots of information about Rust&Steel on the Internet. Most of it quite interesting until it gets detailed to not being understandable to folks like me.

 

[Egon]

Moss, that Pillar has a lot of fabricated mystery / conjector surrounding it, from Alien to Lost Ancient Secrets. Check out some of the "before present " stuff. Ie: Von Daniken. Some of the video depiction might be entertainment.

If you could only discover the secret to Damascus Steel you may be able to cut diamonds or was it feathers?

 

[BHD]

Plating used on bolts or just about any parts was so much better back in the days of toxic heavy metals

Even the processes used to cut screws and bolt threads has changed considerably...machine pressing is now the norm

As I have all ready stated, Lead paint, lead from what I have seen has some remarkable proprieties and one of them is to keep threads free, as far as I can tell most of the bolts of the 40-60's were not even plated, but as said many times one can still remove the nuts with out effort, I have replaced bolts in old machinery with modern plated, and they will seize up in a few years, where the old lead painted bolts are removable,

as far as the steel it self, I do not find as good in general many times there are hard spots in it and it is difficult to work with many times, when reusing or salvaging it,

a number of years ago I took apart on of the first no galvanized irrigation sprinklers, most all bolts broke loose with an impact wrench, made in the 60's and painted with lead paint, as far as I could see non plated bolts used, but under sprinkler irrigation water for 50 years, and out side for that long as well,

 

[dmccarty]

...

If you could only discover the secret to Damascus Steel you may be able to cut diamonds or was it feathers?

That is easy....

One just has to quench the blade in the body of a slave or captured enemy....

:shocked:

Later,
Dan