The Armour Archive

I am looking for some fine iron powder. I tried collecting filings from my shop floor but they are too coarse. I did a google search and that wasn't much help. I seem to remember some people use powdered metal for some forging or damascus work.
Anyone know where I can get some?

Thanks,
Chris

P.S. This is for a science experiment (ferrofluid).

Do you have access to chemical suppliers? Sigma-Aldrich sells iron powder as small as < 100 nm at 99.5% purity. Runs about $34 for a 5 gram bottle. Larger particle size powders are also available for significantly less money.

I assume other suppliers have similar products.

If you don't have access to chemical supply companies try Ametek. They are a specialty shop for metal particulates. I was able to get 50 g of two different size SS particles as free samples.

Check for shot blasting powder at places that deal with sandblasting media.

If you can tell us the intended use we might be able to make a better suggestion...

Thomas

you might wanna get with Krag, he has a mountain of it in his backyard...

Try some local machine shops, I used to work in one years ago. I worked at a big disk grinder, grinding parts. There was always a LARGE pile of metal dust at the end of the day. We just swept it up and threw it away. Well most of it anyway, sometimes we used it on each other...Made a killer itching powder

David

On e-bay look for poor-boy blacksmith supplies, he sells it. You might have to look up a swage or flatner or hargy tool to find him. He has a e-bay store and is more than helpful.
Good luck!

he's using it for ferrofluid, didn't you see? it's kinda like a magnetic liquid. VERY cool stuff . you suspend tiny iron particles in the liquid basically

Yes, thank you Brookswift. I am making ferrofluid. I harvested some filings from my shop figuring the dust produced by the sander and such would work. But the particles were too large to get the best effect. Hence the reason I am looking for a true powdered form.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think I may have found what I am looking for.

Chris

http://reade.com/Products/Oxides/hematite.html

http://stores.ebay.com/FINE-POWDER-AMER ... eZL2QQtZkm

http://dmoz.org/Business/Industrial_Goo ... s/Powders/

Thanks for those Robert.

Chris

No problem. I have a line on a guy that sells low and high carbon powders (1018 & 1084 series, for mosiac damascus) at a smaller amount, ( a gallon vs a ton, $50 vs $1000) but I've misplaced it. Will get back with.


***edited for spelling, and content error.

he does sell 15n20 but not in powder. Correction made.

'Ear ya go.

Talk ta Jeff

1-406-452-1246

http://www.dfoggknives.com/hy_alloy_steels.htm

Right now I bought (5# each) 1 Qt. of 1018 @ $1.74 #, & 1 Qt. of 1084 @ $2.50ish a #, with shipping,...total about $45 bucks from Montana to Indiana.

They sell it by qt and Gallon. Gallon is like 25#.

Thanks. That looks like the best source yet!

Chris