I work at a sheet metal fabrication plant and was wondering if regular steel bar stock (ASTM A36, M1020) is suitable for knife making? Is it too low in carbon to be worthwhile? Can it be heat treated? I figure, if nothing else it might be good for practicing on? Thanks!
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
ASTM A36 M1020 suitable for knife making?
- Thread starter PaMtnBkr
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2008
- Messages
- 522
Check out this link for more info.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A36_steel
What part of Pa are you from? I do some mountain biking myself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A36_steel
What part of Pa are you from? I do some mountain biking myself.
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2010
- Messages
- 1,154
Bingo
Nathan the Machinist
KnifeMaker / Machinist / Evil Genius
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2007
- Messages
- 17,507
You need at least 50 points of carbon at a bare minimum.
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2010
- Messages
- 1,154
Blade steel is fairly cheap (.125"X2"X48" from Aldo is $19). With all the man hours you will put into making a blade, you should really just make it out of good knife steel. Even if it is not the prettiest thing, with proper heat treat, it will still take and hold an edge. If you do not want to put handles on it, you can paracord wrap it and use it just fine.
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 37,748
Med students practice on cadavers..................because human like is valuable.
Knife makers practice of real blade steel..........because it is cheap.
Thanks everyone! I am learning a lot from all you folks and really appreciate it! I just figured w/alll the drop we have I might be able to use some but obviously, why not practice w/something that you can actually use since it is so inexpensive (the material)
MELSDAD- I live just east of Pittsburgh near Greensburg. Howzabout you? I mtn bike at least 2x a week, year round! Yes, even in winter! I love frozen trails!
MELSDAD- I live just east of Pittsburgh near Greensburg. Howzabout you? I mtn bike at least 2x a week, year round! Yes, even in winter! I love frozen trails!
Hi Melsdad,
I live in Irwin and ride Big Bear as often as possible. My "home" park is Roaring Run in Apollo. I broke my Femur there this past March. Going there this Sun! How much knife making experience do you have? I would love to talk w/someone who has some experience and lives close by?
I live in Irwin and ride Big Bear as often as possible. My "home" park is Roaring Run in Apollo. I broke my Femur there this past March. Going there this Sun! How much knife making experience do you have? I would love to talk w/someone who has some experience and lives close by?