Asphalt cutting blades as knife making stock question

ACLakey

ACLakey

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Jan 24, 2016
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I was given around a dozen of these PR Diamond Asphalt cutting blades and would like to use them for knife making stock. Each blade measures just under 18" in diameter and are .125" thick. I called the company that manufactures the blades and they told me they were high speed tool steel with molybdenum but didn't have any more information than that. Would these blades be a good material for making knifes? Anything I should consider or processes I need to consider? Thanks for the time.
 
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It seems to me that with the diamond content, it might be difficult to cut and grind the blades. And forging would burn out the diamonds, leaving behind a steel that is probably manufactured for toughness instead of hardness. Just supposing, though.
 
My peers use these blades to make throwing knives. I've tested one at 42 RC - way too low for a knife.

It is a safe bet that the saw hardness is at or near the max working hardness of the steel. Meaning you might not be able to hit 60 RC even if you redo the heat-treat.
 
Try cutting a 3/4 in.X 6in. strip . Heat to critical in your forge then oil quench. After cooling and cleaning, clamp it in a vice with about an inch sticking up and give a lateral whack. If it breaks, decent steel. If it bends/cracks, try repeating using a water quench.
Good luck.

Jim L.
 
The diamonds are only in the little blocks that make up the edge of the the "teeth" of the blade. The rest of the blade...mystery steel.
 
I have several of those on the smithy wall (a gift from a concrete cutter friend who wanted to give me some free "great" knife steel). They are not good knife steel. "High speed and moly-chrome" do not mean knife steel. The same type metal is used for the body of carbide tipped table saw blades ... which make poor knives, too.
 
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