Beginner Stainless??

I

iowashtr23

Joined
Apr 19, 2009
Messages
57
Okay guys i'm looking for some more advice. Headed down to Witchita KS this next weekend and they have a metal surplus store there that has tons of strap stainless forsale very cheap, due to being a aircraft town. I have made all knives prior out of high carbon example: O1, 1095, 1080. I would like to make a knife out of stainless now. Any advice on what type i should look for??
Thanks
 
I'd be real interested to know what they have. I wouldn't expect much in the way of knife steel, but you might be able to pick up some good scrap Titanium. I got a sheet of 90% Ti 10% Mg that I think came from there via eBay. Real nice stuff, very workable.

As to your original question, stay away from 3xx series stainless, it is low carbon and doesn't HT very well. 4xx series is widely used for bolsters, guards, fittings, etc. Anything else they have might be interesting for a knife.
 
ATS-34/154CM ( same thing, different makers), CPM-154 ( same as the first two, but particle metallurgy), 440-C ( the old standby....cheap, and makes a good knife)
All are good starter stainless.
 
I don't expect they would have much knife blade steel, but look out for 416 for guards, pommels and such .
 
Yeah not sure what they actually have but the place is called " The Yard " . i know they have all sorts of stuff from Para cord to sheet stainless, bar stock possibly some HC steel??
 
because of the HT for stainless i really would say that any are good starter steel (since your sending out for HT right )
all you need to know is the alloy and the HTer can fix you up

if you want to do your own HT then a kiln is the min you need to have and LN2 would be a plus to have (dry ice in a pinch) you will also need SS foil for wrapping the blades
 
It is a good source for micarta and G-10. Never heard much about any high carbon steel being available or a bunch of guys would have already hit it.
 
Well i'm back from Wichita KS and went to the " YARD " and yep alot of you guys were right NOTHING!!! no stainless or much of anything at all. They did have some Micarta but it was like 1 inch thick X 3ft, way to big for me and besides it was a very ugly color. So i will be ordering my stainless and other stuff online.
 
If you still want a beginner stainless you may want to look at A2, its not stainless but the HT is very similar and is cheaper than other stainless, much like O1 with some chrome to help resist corrosion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top