a little help for the new guy!

A

agghumi

Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
33
Hi all , I'm new to knife making and have much to learn. I'm using a forge from the 1800's, primative yet functional. I've pounded out two knives so far. I've got knife making on the brain...bad. I need help on a type of steel a friend gave me, 3/4 rod with a tag on it that reads 9254 he said it's chromium. Will this make a good knife? :confused: Any and all thoughts welcome Thanks.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! At the top of your screen you'll see a prompt that says Makers. This will take you top where all the knifemakers hang out. It's called Shop Talk. Ask there and you'll be sure to get answers.


All the best,
Mike U.
 
Agghumi,

Welcome to the forums! I am betting you are about to make some new friends here and that you will enjoy this place at least as much as I do.

Gus

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uh-oh, there was already one here:D.
 
Bastid said:
Agghumi,

Welcome to the forums! I am betting you are about to make some new friends here and that you will enjoy this place at least as much as I do.

Gus

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uh-oh, there was already one here:D.
Click to expand...
Yeah, what Bastid said! Everyone here was new at one time, too.
 
OK,here's what I've got.SAE9254 is a medium carbon spring steel.Used in aircraft bolts and automotive suspension parts.It contains C= .5-.6:Si= 1.2-1.6:Mn=.6-.8:Cr= .6-.8
Quench is 1525-1580,temper is 950-1000.It is not stainless,or high carbon.It is not a blade steel.It is tough but not designed for hardness.I would spend my learning experiences on a proven steel like 5160 or 1095.Keep up the forging,ask lots of questions,and post photos of your knives as you learn. - Stacy Apelt
 
Yeap, you are in the right place for sure. Here you will find the best of the best to help you learn your new passion.

I am not a forger but I'd set that rod aside and go to local auto machanics and pick up some scrap leaf spring. Learn on those with your fintage forge. For sure those pieces of steel will have enough carbon content to make a knife. Afterwards buy the steel you prefer for a particular blade from vendors that sell it.

We are glad to have you here.

RL
 
Your alloy is lower in carbon than most people would use for knives. It would be very tough, but would probably be in the low to mid 50's RC when hardened. It would work for a big bowie knife, a throwing knife, or a sword. It looks to me like it is just a small step down from the 5160 or leaf spring alloys that people are suggesting. I think you should try it and see how you like it. You might even be able to differentially harden the edge more than the spine.
 
Yes,you could make a hawk from it.It would do better for that than a blade.As Rlinger said,for practice,use VRTS steel (very rusty truck springs).It is 5160.When you are ready to make quality blades go to Admiral steel or Crucible steel.When you are starting out the number of heat cycles and amount of overheat can burn up a lot of the carbon in your steel.If there is only .5% to start,you don't end up with enough to get much hardness.If you are going to experiment with this 9254 steel,quench and temper as if it was 5160.Draw temper to 500-550.Test the edge,and if it is still a bit brittle,re-temper at 600.
 
A little off but maybe worth a mention: Once upon a time a few months back a fellow sent me a blade that he had a sample of its steel analysed, which they tested it as being 1047 (as I recall). He even sent me the analysis. Well, I did all I could do with it and after three attempts I was able to get low fourty's HRc (as I recall). It was not 1047 - my opinion. The analysis sheet did show it as such carbon content. I think not.

EDIT: I wasn't sure of my memory so I looked up my notes. It was not 1047 but analysed as being 1045 with a carbon content of 0.47 percent. It was cable that he had forged into a blade for me to HT. The actual HRc I got was not in the 40's but 25, according to my notes. I did attempt the HT three times with no varying results even though both water and oil quenching was used.

Well this is a little long about something that may not even pertain but my point, I suppose, is don't spend a lot of hard work using materials not worthy of your hard work.

RL
 
Thanks everyone for the input,You've been a big help. I,ll leave that one in the stock pile for now
 
You guys are awesome. I had the honor of spending the day at the TrackRock hammerin today with a great group of people. As time goes by, I will consider myself to be lucky to meet more of you.

Gus
 
9254 is a spring steel and would be heat treated similar to and have properties similar to 5160.Both steels make fine 'hawks. Always beware of scrap , as Roger found out, it's not always what you think.
 
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