1095

[Frank Eaton]

Can anyone give any advise on 1095? What is the difference in HR and CRA 1095? I only do stock removal at this time, does it make a decent knife. Strengths and weaknesses?

 

[D.A. Guertin]

Good simple steel, gets hard, keeps a good edge. Can be brittle if not done right. I've ground 1095 plenty. Just be sure to keep a bucket by in case your pants catch fire; the sparks wrap all the way around the belt, and then some...

Darryl

 

[F. Allin Kahrl]

HR means "Hot Rolled" and CRA means "Cold Rolled and Annealed". Hot rolled is rougher as it has more scale left on its exterior from the hot rolling process (where it's turned from an ingot to a flat bar).

1095 is really easy to work with. Its tool steel version is called W-1 and is the standard by which the machinability of other tool steels is judged.

It takes as keen an edge as any steel when properly heat treated, so it is great for cutting. Furthermore, it's shallow-hardening, and if your blade is more than .100" thick or so, the core of the blade won't harden as much and as a result will be very tough, especially against impact.

It's not a stainless steel by any stretch, so you've got to keep it oiled or otherwise coated to keep it from rusting.

It's used by Ka-Bar for many of their military knives, by Nicholson for their files, and Ron Hock for some of his woodworking blades. It's good stuff!

-Allin

 

[mete]

CRA would be better ,should have structure of spheroidized carbides, easier to grind etc.If you're going to heat treat it yourself do a search here to find the proper methods.

 

[Frank Eaton]

Thanks folks.

 

[happycat]

Its what I used for the first few years when I ws doing stock removal. I still like it quite a bit. One thing I liked when I was starting out, was that I could heat treat it myself with minimal equipment, and it was CHEAP! Jantz knifemakers supply used to sell it (and I'm betting still do). I think a 1 1/2" 18" long bar of 1/8th thick used to cost about 3.85. I bet it hasn't gone up a whole lot. That cheap factor allowed me to take some chances without fear or "ruining" a 20.00 bar of ATS 34 or whatever.
Good luck! Have fun.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Easy to get,easy to work,easy to HT.A great all around steel for a beginner.Do make sure to temper it well,to avoid brittleness issues.Get CRA if you are a grinder.Admiral Steel has it cheap.
SA