15n20

[combatviper]

Can 15n20 be used as a blade itself, or would it be too soft to make an effective cutting tool, because it's cheap, and does have a nice finish from all of the nickel.

 

[JCaswell]

Can 15n20 be used as a blade itself, or would it be too soft to make an effective cutting tool, because it's cheap, and does have a nice finish from all of the nickel.

Yes, 15N20 would make a fine tool by itself.

 

[combatviper]

Is there anything to be done differently to as far as working it and heat treating it?

 

[Byork]

I've used 15N20 for several blades. All the people who have them have reported back with positive reviews.

I heat treated mine like I would 1080 with good results.

As I understand it, it's used so often in pattern welds with 10XX series steels because the heat treatment is so similar. I believe it has .75 carbon content.

Walter

 

[go mike]

Where do you find 15n20?

 

[Dan Seaver]

Where do you find 15n20?

Aldo Bruno has 15n20 in 1/16. I have about 98 pounds left of his. Good stuff.

 

[Byork]

A bladesmith and friend sent me some in a package of "scraps" to hone my skills on. It was about 3/32" and I haven't been able to find that thickness again. I'll ask him if he can tell me where it came from.

Kelly Couples has some but it's considerably thinner. I've used some of the really thin stock to make knives for some wood carvers.

Walter

 

[AcridSaint]

All of my .095" 15N20 was from Kelly. I only heat treat before grinding with 15N20, I tend to get more warp from it than other steels. It can surely benefit from annealing and stress relieving.

 

[kgd]

Koyote (Knives by Christof) uses it extensively. Why not try contacting him? He has a subforum in the makers section.

 

[Byork]

I think I'll have to agree with the Saint. The steel I had was annealed, but the first blade warped on me. I've normalized all the rest 3 times before I heat it up and quench and that's helped a lot.

.095 sounds like what I have (.09375 =3/32). I just got a price list from Kelly a couple of days ago, .065 was the thickest listed. Sent a reply asking if he could source some more, but I haven't heard back yet.

Walter

 

[AcridSaint]

Hey Walter - last time I order was a couple years ago, he told me he still had a small stash of .095 and I ordered what I thought I'd need for some time. I don't use it terribly often. At the time he said he was sourcing some thicker stuff approaching 1/8". Might be best to give him a call.

 

[Byork]

Thanks for the heads up Saint. I'll try to give him a call early next week.

Back to the topic, this little blade was made with 15N20. I've really enjoyed using the steel. I'll put start a new thread with pictures open for full out critique once the scales are attached and it's finished.

Walter