Best Round Stock sizes

[Greenberg Woods]

Hey guys, I was wondering what round stock sizes you guys liked for hand hammering. I only really do kitchen knives and wood working tools, and I was thinking some 5/8 and 3/4 stock, maybe some 7/8.

I have heard 5/8 goes to about a 1.5 inch wide knife if you really whoop it into shape, but im genreally not very knowledge about the size conversions.

 

[kuraki]

I've been using 5/8 and 3/4 W1 round bar.

 

[HSC ///]

Ben , I can't understand why you would want to use round stock to make a flat bar by hand hammering?
I see the only value is for an integral bolster knife where you would need the material like this shape

unless you are saying that the flat bar you need is not available?

but the answer to your question is I used 5/8" for the one on the left (by hand) and 3/4" for the one on the right (with press and power hammer)
both are W1, just like John said

 

[DAMNENG]

Hey guys, I was wondering what round stock sizes you guys liked for hand hammering. I only really do kitchen knives and wood working tools, and I was thinking some 5/8 and 3/4 stock, maybe some 7/8.

I have heard 5/8 goes to about a 1.5 inch wide knife if you really whoop it into shape, but im genreally not very knowledge about the size conversions.

bar dia. bar area rectangular bar equivalents
5/8" round bar is .29"sq, roughly equivalent to 1/4" X 1 1/8"
3/4" round bar is .42"sq, roughly equivalent to 1/4" X 1 5/8"
7/8" round bar is .57"sq, roughly equivalent to 1/4" X 2 1/4"
1" round bar is .785" sq, roughly equivalent to 1/4" X 3"
depending on your forging skills and equipment.

Hope this helps
Jim Arbuckle ABS JS

 

[jdm61]

Those numbers assume that you can spread the bar without gaining any length, which would not be easy by hand. With the mild drawing dies on my press,I am lucky to get a 1 inch wide bar from a 3/4 round.