Anyone have steel? Stock removal

K

Keithcellini

Joined
Jan 9, 2008
Messages
281
I need to order steel for my first knife and thought that it may be nice to have a variety of steels. If anyone here has any flat stock that they think would be good for stock removal perhaps o1? and a few others I would be happy to pay for some. I have never orderes steel but think it comes in legths that need to be cut down. I would only need pieces in the 8-10 inch range I assume.

This will be my first attempt at a "real" knife. I don't even want to talk about my first attempt before opening a book or looking at a website! ouch.... I would need something forgiving and that can be heat treated relatively easily. I can send a money order.....

One more question, where should someone buy Damascus? I absolutely love it but it must be very costly. Does anyone know the best place to purchase it at a reasonable price? ;) Thanks again gang.
 
Keith,

I'd suggest that you find the water jet cutting thread. Great Lakes Waterjet (David) can hook you up with a blank for a nominal cost then you can grind and finish it out yourself. He will also acquire the steel for you in whatever (O-1 is a good choice, but I'm partial).
 
O-1 is great forgiving steel for stock removal, and it's available everywhere as precision ground flat stock in a variety of thicknesses and widths, for damascus when you're ready Delbert Ealy makes some really beautiful patterns (he's got some threads over in the Knifemakers for sale section for some great stabilized burl, some of which I bought from him)

-Page
 
Thanks guys, O1 seems to be a good choice as far as I can tell. If I have to place an order for steel do you think 50 bucks will get me very far? What sizes should I look for? I mean thickness etc. What style of knife makes sense for a newb? I did hear that Bowie knives are fairly simple but I have no clue.
 
If I was going to start stock removal again I would get some steel 3/16" (.1875) thick and either 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" wide (depending on design of blades) in bars. Look at what pleases you and you would like try that. Not to many different angles or grinds on the blade. keep it simple. You could get a piece of cheap bar at any hardware store and make a couple throw aways just to get the feel of it and try out your design before you try your O1.

Get good with good but, in expensive steel before damascus. I do some damascus, but, now I do a first copy in 5160 or 1095 before I used the damascus. That way I learn the design problems or my mistakes on that blade. I can usually change things and "save" the plain blade as a smaller knife or another handle type. Then when I use the damascus I have a better chance og getting what I really want. I made some damascus knive early on and they are OK but, I kind of wish I would have waited for my skills to improve and worked on simple steels more first. At first people OHed my knives because of the damascus. Now the OH them in plain steel. I make a much better knife now. My fit, finish, grinds, and etc. Now I save my damascus for very extra special.

I have never bought any of Delberts damascus. I did do business with him once and was a very happy customer. Treated me more than right and I am sure if you do any business with him you will be happy. I have gotten quite a bit of Chad Nichols damascus and it is excellent and he is an excellent guy.
 
Now here is one eager fellow. Over 200 posts in 20 days.
Kieth, Learn to do a search and you will find many of these answers. The stickies at the top should keep you busy for days,too.
Glad to see you are eager, though.

I'll offer some startup advice:

Read at least three knife making books, and at least ten online tutorials.

Read all the stickies at the top of this forum, and as many of the linked tutorials as you can absorb.

Start with one style, one steel and one method (i.e.- drop point hunter, 1070, stock removal)

Make no less than three identical knives. Compare the three and see where you improved, and where you still need to improve.

Find a maker within a three hour drive and spend a weekend or two in his shop.

Read everything Kevin Cashen posts on HT. Print it out and memorize it.

Use the best material and supplies you can afford ( within reason), but remember, tools and materials don't make knives.....knifemakers make knives.

Don't think using found/free material is cost effective or economical. It saves little and can result in a poor product. save the experiments for when you know how to interpret them.

Take your time. Rushing to make five knives in a week is usually not as good as making one knife in five weeks.

have fun. Knife making is an enjoyment to most makers. If it becomes a hair pulling frustration, you will never get a hold on it.
S
 
Bladsmith, I cannot search this site. I wish I could but I am only a basic member thus far. I am sorry if I ask too many questions but I am very excited and want to gather as much knowledge as I possible can before making mistakes that newbies make. I am the kind of person that measures twice and cuts once. I am ready to get steel so i am just about there.
JB, thanks man, I will take your advice and save the Damascus till I have more experience, I too would hate to destroy a great piece of steel.
 
Keith,

I know I mentioned it in one of your earlier threads but here it is again. If you go to a fastenal store here on the island you can have them order it and they usually have it in 2 days. you can get some 1/8" precision ground flat stock for the $50.00 you are looking to spend and shipping is zippo... you go pick it up when it comes in.

Paul.
 
Thats right Paul... I forgot all about them. I was going to get the address but forgot to do the search! Thanks for the reminder. Do they sell other supplies I may need? I am going to try and google them now and maybe I can get to them this weekend.
 
I found a store in Farmingdale which is the town in which I work!! I may even be able to get to them tomorrow....... It looks like they sell fasteners and cnc type stuff, do they have alot of knife steel in stock or do they usually have to order it? and do they sell tools? Thanks again for the reminder, I don't know why but I was thinking it was upstate?
 
If you're not set on using Tool steel [01, A2, D2, etc, etc], you can buy a hell of a lot of 1095 carbon steel and do stock removal. I think they sell it in like 9 foot sections and it comes in one piece from Admiralsteel.com. Personally I would buy some cheaper steel like 1095 and practice on it before spending more money on precision ground steels. If you buy the 1095, make sure it's annealed which will have an A behind the first two letters like CRA. Makes a bit of difference when you're grinding on it if it's annealed and not half hardened already. :D If you plan on forging it someday, then it doesn't matter. 1095 isn't as pretty as precision ground o-1 or a2, but you can grind all that off on the surface.

WEAR A RESPIRATOR and goggles!
 
Do you have a forge or torch or other means of heat treating your blades? If not I would say go with a stainless like 154cm or ats-34 and sending it to Paul Bos to heat treat.
 
I do have a small forge that I am going to use for heat treating and even forging a little bit if i can. I will see what I can get as far as cheaper steel to practice on. I want a good blade but do not want to waste money either.

I am so ready to just do it! I have the tools to make it happen but no steel..plus I have to clear a space for the tools.
 
Keithcellini said:
I do have a small forge that I am going to use for heat treating and even forging a little bit if i can. I will see what I can get as far as cheaper steel to practice on. I want a good blade but do not want to waste money either.

I am so ready to just do it! I have the tools to make it happen but no steel..plus I have to clear a space for the tools.
Click to expand...


You're prolific! I've been a member here for over two years and have less than 1500 posts. You have over 200 in less than a month! You're the new Jacob McDonald (aka pimpinsquee).
 
Jacob's mom sold the house and he had to move out of his trailer. They are getting a new place.

Keith - Try using a google serach, see below post
Stacy
 
Keithcellini said:
I do have a small forge that I am going to use for heat treating and even forging a little bit if i can. I will see what I can get as far as cheaper steel to practice on. I want a good blade but do not want to waste money either.

I am so ready to just do it! I have the tools to make it happen but no steel..plus I have to clear a space for the tools.
Click to expand...

If you're looking for inexpensive steel that is really easy to heat treat and don't mind it being on the smallish side, Mace and Aldo have some 1084 in 1 inch width (I think it's 3/16 thick or so)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485280

Hopefully they won't run out before I have the money for another order :(
I use it for a lot of my little blades and for teaching 'cause the stuff is almost foolproof and forgeworks like playdough!

oh yea, they are kind of in your area

-Page
 
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