5168 Steel

C-Camerer

C-Camerer

Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
806
After running into inclusions yet again with 5160 I am wanting to try 5168. This is suppossed to be a purer version. However I am running into dead ends from my normal suppliers. Anyone ever heard of this steel and know where I could purchase some?

Craig
 
The cleanest 5160 steel I found came from used John Deer load control shafts. Go to any John Deer dealer or farm tractor repair shop and ask for the rod that goes between the two bottom arms on a 3 point hitch, through the differentail housing of the tractor. Used they are as cheap as you can get. The kind of use they are subject to is not likely to result in damage to the steel for use in a knife. I found it to be consistent and very clean. The bars I used ranged around one inch thick. New ones are very expensive.
 
Thanks for the help Ed. I contacted the local John Deere dealer and while they didn't have any broken ones on hand he said that they replace them frequently. He is going to save them for me and call me when he gets a pile. I am going to also contact some of the neighboring John Deere dealerships. :)

Craig
 
With all the other costs that go into making knives, it is nice to be able to find high quality steel for a bargain price. It was also really nice of Ed to pass on this info. This advice is also given in his great book on knife making called Knife Talk. Ed is one of the nicest guys you are ever going to run into in this business and I am proud to have him consider me a friend.
 
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