Another Noob question which steels to ask for at the steel shop in a few hours.

C

Cornbread556

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Jul 16, 2011
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Well I read the steel FAQ thread in the newbies thread and left my head spinning with a mental over load. I've got to go pick up some things at the local steel shop for work this week. Figure while I'm there I'd ask about some steel for making a knife and several scrap pieces of metal resembling a knife shape. Which leaves me to ask what type should I ask for? The design and use will be heavy utility and large 10 inches long and 1 7/8 wide if that helps. Other thing is I will be doing this by all by hand as I don't have a belt sander yet.
 
Planing on doing the heat treat myself. Figure it will take a few months before I get to that step, and I have enough verious matieral to make a gas forge for it.
 
Of the steels they're likely to have that can be hand worked easily that has a straight forward HT, O1 is a pretty good bet.
 
I just reread the steel thread and my mind must have taken a break as it made since this go around. I'll ask about some O1. Along with M-2 and A-2 With this shop you never know what they have laying around.
 
If you plan to do the heat treat yourself I would stick with the O1. A2, and especially M2 are best done in a vacuum furnace.
 
Cornbread556 said:
The design and use will be heavy utility and large 10 inches long and 1 7/8 wide if that helps. Other thing is I will be doing this by all by hand as I don't have a belt sander yet.
Click to expand...

Stock up on elbow grease while you're at the store ;)
 
Personally, I don't think that O1 is the best candidate for an optimum heat treat in a gas forge, based on the fact that it really benefits from soak time at or around 1500F. Most forges will likely not hold at that temp and the steel may be over heated.

I would lean more towards getting some 1084 if it's availabe at the steel shop. Now, whether they have any 10xx steels, O1, or any other types of tool steels depends on what kind of "steel shop" the OP is talking about.
 
I don't think I would go to any ol' local steel shop.(depending upon where you are) There are steel shops the pros here use, and it's not by chance. The purity of the steel seems pretty crucial to me. I wouldn't want to spend a bunch of time making something "just for practice".

I'm a real noob here too, but the steels I have, have come from Aldo. I don't mind spending a little more to get the best stuff. There are a few others that the guys here trust. All I know is that I haven't heard Anything negative about Aldo's steel.

Happily, I got the very fine pleasure of meeting him at the Blade show in Atlanta. I only wish he weren't so busy. I would have loved to talk with him more, but he was selling steel at a very brisk pace.
 
Get yourself some 1084. O1 is another steel best left to those with the equipment to allow for the proper soak time.
 
I'm a big believer in buying local and skipping the shipping, but my local steel shops don't stock much knifemaking steel.

There are 10 structural steel suppliers for every specialty tool steel supplier & even they stock almost all 4140
Sometimes even cold rolled mild is hard to get compared to hot rolled.

Precision ground 0-1, D2 and A2 if you are lucky & those are at a steep premium.





Especially if you are in the US and especially if what you are making is suited to aldo's 1084FG
Get it from him. It's consistent and it works out to be cheaper.


The thing about scrap cutoff drops, is unless each bit is marked, you won't know what kind of steel it really is.
 
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Never made it to the shop fell asleep before they opened. Guess I'll have to deal with a glove with a hole in it tonight. Does Aldo Have a website? As I might just order some metal from him.
 
Cornbread you will not go wrong dealing with Aldo. Get some 1084, and have a go at it. Just give him a call and he will take care of you. I bet he even makes you laugh during your conversation.
 
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