440C brick

G

Gene Martin

Joined
Feb 5, 1999
Messages
1,068
Yesterday I was at my favorite scrapyard/steel recycling center. In poking around through some of the bins, I found a brick of 440C. A real brick. It was2x4x8 inches.

I scratched my head for a couple of minutes, then decided that I really couldn't figure out what I'd use it for. It was around $3/lb.

Next week I'm headed back over there. I may have a use by then, or it may stay there.

Ideas, other than folder blades?

Gene
 
Once upon a time I found a 6" round of 440C over 8 ft long at a scrap yard. Maybe I should have picked it up, but I was living in a third story apartment at the time, and couldn't figure out where to keep it... That, and it would have killed my car...
 
I've been kicking this around in my head all day. My bandsaw wouldn't slab it, but theirs will , for $2/cut. I could slab it in 3/16- 1/4" sections lengthwise and make stick tang hunters. If I took 1/2 off that would still leave a sizeable piece for whatever project I could think of. It's $3.25/lb, so I don't think I can beat the price.

Thanks, guys. I think I talked myself into it.

Gene
 
Gene, that's one heck of a deal on the 440. By the way, the scales I received from you are great! I already got half of them used. Local clients request a knife and I let them pick out their scales. It works great.
 
My local scrap yard charges $1.00/Lb. for stainless and $0.30/Lb. for steel.
I guess I am lucky. I bought all that 12" 312 stainless pipe for the forges at $1.00/Lb. They still have another 8' piece. I may go and get it.
All that aside, $3.25 for 440 is a good deal.
Stacy
 
have it cut int to intergral size chuncks for when your ready to try it that would be the best bet im betting
 
Well, I bought the steel today. I also had 2 of life's lessons demonstarted. The brick is clearly marked 440C. It's nice and clean and shiny, obviously a cut off from who knows what. So I go get it out of the cold rolled bin where it was collecting dust. Stainless is usually kept in a separate building.

I handed it to an employee to weigh and write up. It weighed 23lbs and stainless is going for $3.25/lb. He looks it all over and asks another employee why it's so special and has the writing on it. Lesson 1, have employees that know what they are doing. Second employee says it's a higher grade of cold rolled steel, it's stronger. See lesson one.

Lesson 2 is that when someone else is having a conversation, don't interrupt. They weren't talking to or about me, just the steel I wanted to buy. I saw no need to give the employees of a steel yard a lecture on steels.

So, the guy wrote it up as new cold rolled. I paid $.75/lb for it and he gave me 2 pounds off. The guy was obviously having a bad day so i didn't correct him , or even tell him it wasn't new cold rolled. I figured that to err is human, etc.

Bottom line, my 23 lb brick of 440C cost a whopping $15.75. I put it in the truck, paid for it and smiled as I drove away.

Their bandsaw wasn't rigged to cut strips off it. I'll jury rig my bandsaw so it will. I do have some projects in mind. Heck, I may even try forging a bit of it. I have a 25 ton press and all the parts to assemble my air hammer, so it might just make for several interesting projects.

Gene
 
personally i only see problems cutting that brick up in usable pieces (i have a similar brick of Ti that i cant use), but why not some cool pizzacutters? if you can cut if in a cheap way that is.
 
Hi Gene
at first I saw your post
I had to think , I wonder if it's the same
Gene Martin:confused: then went to your listed website and the first thing I did was see if your girl was still doing your site:D not so newly wed now,, how they doing , well I hope.. :thumbup:
, glad to see you..
 
Hi Dan,

Yep, it's still me. Zoe taught me how to manage my site last Christmas, so it has a different look and I need to straighten a few things out. I'll getr there.

Zoe is doing well. She's divorced. A number of reasons, all good. I'm the newly wed now after losing my wife to a brain tumor.

Life is good. Making knives, being young and really happy, getting on with things. You never know where life will take you.

Gene
 
Gene Martin said:
Hi Dan,

Yep, it's still me. Zoe taught me how to manage my site last Christmas, so it has a different look and I need to straighten a few things out. I'll getr there.

Zoe is doing well. She's divorced. A number of reasons, all good. I'm the newly wed now after losing my wife to a brain tumor.

Life is good. Making knives, being young and really happy, getting on with things. You never know where life will take you.

Gene
Click to expand...

HI Gene the site looks good,, for a newbi :D the girl is a good teacher ;) :D :thumbup:
sorry about Zoe's split up but if it was for the good :thumbup: it sure was a short one...or is time going to fast? about 5 years ago?
I was glad to hear you have your new lady in your life, being alone has it's downs for sure.. be well freind..
 
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