Absolutely broke, and I'm trying to look for steel

Mitchell Knives said:
If I was completely broke, I would use this time to do research and work on designs.

Read all you can about knife making; craftsmanship in general. Figure out what you're really interested in making and come up with a plan.

Spend the rest of your time coming up with a notebook of good designs.

Save money in the meantime until you can buy some inexpensive steel.
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This is great advice. For years I was to broke to make custom knives. So I read everything I could at the magazine stand and library. I learned what I liked and when the day came I finally decided to make knives it was not as difficult. This was long before the internet.

Now it is easier then ever in history to find information on knife making. There is a lot to learn long before you put steel to the grinder.
 
Ball bearings and bearing races are often 52100. Springs are 5160, 9260, or something like that.
 
Mitchell Knives said:
If I was completely broke, I would use this time to do research and work on designs.

Read all you can about knife making; craftsmanship in general. Figure out what you're really interested in making and come up with a plan..
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That's what I've been trying to do. I've been watching Walter Sorrells' youtube videos and I've found them incredibly helpful, I'm also open to any suggestions for another smith to watch and learn from if anyone has suggestions.
 
Horsewright said:
I'd second trying to find a knife maker. Trade your labor for the steel and knowledge. I betcha somebody has a shop floor that needs sweeping, pins that need cutting all kinds of odd jobs around a knife shop.
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I'm going to spend more time learning my way around this website and see if I can get in touch with someone. I think it'd be really nice to have someone show me the ins and outs of the trade so I don't do as much head banging on my own, I'd be more than willing to trade labor and time for education.
 
Okay so on a semi related note, I just spent the better part of probably 4-5 hours changing the brake pads, calipers, and brake rotors on my moms car. I kept one of the rotors because it is a massive chunk of steel, however I have no idea what kind it is, I was hoping someone could help me identify it (or just tell me if it's suitable in general), if it helps, it came from a 2002 ford explorer.
 
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