Baron's W-2 email and problems

samuraistuart

samuraistuart

Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
3,158
Hey guys, I got an email from the NJ Steel Baron. He said that his latest batch of W-2, of which I have a bar, has tested poorly and is not hardening properly. The stuff that is under 1/4" thickness that he received a few months ago. I have a knife just about ready for heat treat, and I got his email. Has anyone in the community made a knife out of his recent W-2, say in the 1/8" range, and how did it go? Satisfied? Or did it not harden well? I suppose I'll add my two cents onto this thread as soon as I get his thing heat treated. He offered to replace the bar with any other steel of the same price category. What a guy! He also said that another batch of W-2 is on order, but doesn't expect it until this fall. I have my heart set on working with W2 for some time now, this email came as a blow. Just wondering if ya'll had any experience with his recent W2 (thinner than the 1/4"). Thanks!
 
Over the weekend I attended Joe Szilaski's tomahawk class where we used Aldo's W2 1" X 1" square stock. I was 90 % thru a hawk when I noticed what looked like cracks running length ways down the bar. It turned out to be cold shunts in the bar that went all the way thru in at least this one section.

It seems that the suppliers QC is missing a few things.
 
son of a @$%$! I just read that email as well and I have just recently ordered some of his 1/8" W2, which I was realy loking forward to using since I finally got some Parks 50 and wanted to get some kickass hamons. Thats too bad considering he's pretty much the only place I know that sells W2, at least in quantites with enough to go around for everyone :thumbdn: ..as well as in sizes that you don't need a press or power hammer to forge into a blade. He really is a great guy appearently when it comes to fixing any mess ups in orders etc. which is very cool. I'll still mess around with it, maybe sooome of it is good, who knows.
Now, whaat to get in exchange.. hmmm :sneakiness:
 
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I use Aldo's W-2 quite a bit, though I've only ordered 1/4 inch so far and haven't encountered any heat treat issues - not counting a few that have been my own fault. However, it's great to have a rough estimate of when he expects new stock, though. A lot of us can be more at ease now.
 
This has been a blow to many that were looking forward to using some of Aldo's W2, myself included. The blow has been much harder for Aldo. I have no doubt Aldo will do what he can to make it right for all involved.
 
This originally came to light on another forum where someone asked about some odd looking surface effects without even mentioning Aldo's name, Aldo went ahead and got his stock tested, and found that his supplier had screwed up the steel. Aldo has always taken care of folks in the past if there were issues, this will likely be no different. Be patient, he will take care of you.

-Page
 
Aldo has told the folks who have this steel to hold off using it for the time being while they get the test results back from several places.

In the mean time, it would be good to separate your Aldo W2 and if you can remember, try and figure out when you purchased it. That might help him with knowing what batches are a possible recall.

Aldo may chime in soon with more info.

Note to Aldo:
I told you not to buy steel from a guy in a doorway in Hoboken who says, "Pssst, hey buddy, want to buy some steel...cheap?"
 
No doubt that Aldo will make it right. Not really his fault. It is a problem with the supplier.
 
I ordered some W2 from Aldo last summer and was put on the backorder list. I got the steel around the end of March. I haven't used it yet, so I don't know if it will harden or not. According to the letter I got from Aldo yesterday, it won't. I'm going to take him up on his offer and get some replacement steel. I need to figure out some foolproof way to mark the bad steel so I don't end up using it for blades.
 
Dang, dang, dang! I just got some too. Was just gonna get started tomorrow cutting it up. I hadn't received an email or letter yet. Thanks for the heads up.
 
I just got off the phone from ordering the replacment steel. Everything went quickly, no questions, great service. I can't ask anymore from a company. Aldo..thanks for being on the ball on this, you saved me and others a lot of trouble.
 
Luckly I was forewarned of this before I wasted alot of time and materials on the steel. Sent an email about it and had a refund in my paypal the next morning. I then placed an order from him for 1095.
 
Gentlemen, I just went through the shitiest 2 weeks of my life. Samples were sent to AEIS. A testing company in Rahway,NJ. The results are in the attachment. We also sent samples back to the mill and they confirmed the results. A sample sent over to Peter's heat treat was handled by Brad and he got good results at 1600 with Brine. He didn't get where he wanted to with oil and I still have to get back to him on some other things he wanted to try. Either way, it's just not what I want for any of you, especially the newer guy's who want to try there hand at creating Hamons.

The W2 in question started shipping on 4/16/2013. Dave, yours went out that same day so, yes it was the new stuff. Rocketman, I spoke to Joe Szilaski about the 1 x 1 W-2 you used for your Tomahawk. It was from a small bunch of bars and plate that I found years ago down in Newark back when I was lurking in old steel warehouses looking for steels we could use. I was sorry to hear about your results.

Everyone has been notified that was involved and I apologies for any of you that made the effort and realized it to late. We do plan on another smelt and it will take a few months before we see it. We also plan on changing up the formula a little and, not only testing the certs. when a new load comes in, but also tweeking up the heat treat schedule for each of them and creating a dozen or so blades so that we are comfortable with the results before putting it out.

Less then 5 years ago, when I was still in the Plumbing trade, when I needed parts I went to the supply house and got them. I want that for all of you as well. The learning curve has been a tough one, but we endeavor to serve.

Thank you,
Aldo Bruno
 

Attachments

The W2 ive used from Aldo is fantastic, but its from a year or more ago. The test report shows bar #2 not conforming to W2 parameters, but it still should harden just fine with .75 carbon.

Be sure and do your thermal cycles, even if your stock removing.
 
60 Rockwell tests on samples that covered all the sizes at 1500 to P50 and 1600 to P50. We were averaging in the mid forties with some in the sixties and 50's but crap you can do better then that with 1045. One thing is for sure. I'm not praying for patience anymore.
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles with this batch. I was very interested in trying W2 . I will wait until the next batch comes and I hope this didn't put to much of a finacial hardship on you or your business, Thanks for your service.

All the best
 
Aldo your still the man! The way you handled all this shows me you're a stand up guy and ill still buy from you!!! You'll get through this!!
 
Aldo... Even though I give you a lot of grief I love ya brother. You're the best in the business now for a reason.
 
Aldo, I'm sorry the past two weeks have been such a nightmare. I can only begin to imagine the stress you're going under. But you handled this like a class act. You actually informed us of the problem. Most companies wouldn't have said, "boo". I will be buying all of my steel from you in the future. I appreciate your email, and the results of the tests in pdf. Gives me some hope to go ahead and try 1600 and brine, but it will be a few days as I started another knife, and will do both at the same time. Thanks again.
 
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