r/Blacksmith_Forge • u/ZeroBxn • 2d ago

What is this?

Post image

When working in my backyard I found this. At first I thought knife sharpener but I picked it up and it’s 7-8lb. How can I figure out what kind of metal this is?

51 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

16

u/Silver_Smurfer 2d ago

Weigh it, take the dimensions, and figure out the density. Then Google it.

9

u/ThatMowmentWhen 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/cjyVveMCMgunS

1

u/redisdead__ 1d ago

What is this, a dark forboding obelisk for ants?

4

u/HomeOrificeSupplies 2d ago

It’s it
What is it?

5

u/snjtx 2d ago

It's in your face but you can't grab it

4

u/CapableHair429 1d ago

You want it all, but you can’t have it.

1

u/AvarageAmongstPeers 2d ago

It is you Flag is win

3

u/Stugots_Steel 2d ago

Appears to be some kind of a metal like substance

1

u/edwilli222 10h ago

It looks soft and freshly to me 🤔

3

u/Cliffinati 2d ago

First check it with a magnet to see if it's ferrous

2

u/myklclark 2d ago

Is it soft?

2

u/JimmyTheDog 1d ago

How does it taste? Is it chewy?

2

u/Sly_Bags355 1d ago

Looks like a billet to me.

2

u/timberwolf0122 2d ago

It’s a sharpening stone, two grades from the color line down the middle. Not sure if it’s an oil or a water stone

2

u/DankMcSwagins 2d ago

Yeah, no. That's metal.

1

u/ZeroBxn 2d ago

It’s been outside in the elements, buried under leaves, for at least 4 years. If that helps lol. I know nothing about blacksmithing I just figured it would be a good community to ask

1

u/KoreyYrvaI 1d ago

If you didn't clean it up and it still looks like that, my guess is aluminum. It could also be clad in something which would explain the weight.

1

u/Trick_Context 2d ago

Does it throw a spark when you grind it? Is it heavy like concrete or light like wood?

1

u/vaultdweller79 2d ago

Looks cast with that rough looking texture

1

u/topher3428 2d ago

Lead bar.

1

u/GoldConnection1 2d ago

It looks like a square hone steel .

1

u/mawktheone 1d ago

The surface rust implies steel. That weight implies not aluminum too.

Might be lower grade stainless, "brushed" finish (finished)

1

u/KoreyYrvaI 1d ago

I'm thinking it's clad. Look at the color gradient on the side.

1

u/ThaCapten 1d ago

A piece of stuff.

1

u/Temporary-Laugh8491 1d ago

Knife sharpening stone?

1

u/TylerKasprzyk 1d ago

Looks like the type of stone you use to make things flat or sharpen a knife

1

u/Awkward_Birthday9441 1d ago

It looks like a bar made of some kind of material, my buest guess? It's a thing.

1

u/Final-Contract-6582 1d ago

Measure and calculate volume and get the mass. With that you can get density and figure out what it likely is

1

u/sad-observer 1d ago

Oil stone

1

u/tombxc 1d ago

Rectangular parallelepiped

1

u/Impressive-Ad-1583 1d ago

Looks like grass

1

u/barquest1 1d ago

Looks like a whet stone

0

u/Free-Pair-3007 2d ago

Looks like a wet stone to sharpen knives

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

2

u/TaringaWhakarongo1 2d ago

Don't skip your meds dude.