Best steel for making an awl styled tool

[gmulligan]

I've made a few kit knifes, but I don't have much knowledge of steels. I need some help on what type of steel to use to make a tool for a friend. The tool is going to be similar to an awl with a 1/8" round or square shaft that will have a sharpened edge. Sharpness is not a major concern, but the shaft needs to be stiff enough that it won't bend, but still not be brittle. Will this be helped by tempering. Also, I'd prefer an easy to find steel that can worked with a grinder or belt sander

 

[John R. Fraps]

If you want to grind it from a good piece of already treated steel, you might try a blank of Glensteel from GRS Tools, however they are approx 3/32" rather than 1/8" square.

URL http://www.grstools.com/gravers.html#ntgravers

I have used them not only for gravers , but also have made several small chisels from the blanks to use to carve out the relief in bone handles to inlay the shields on slipjoints I make.
the steel has held a good sharp edge for this use.

 

[gmulligan]

Thanks John,

This is just the sort of help I need! That sounds like it may be the answer, but hope to hear from some other people as well. Thanks again!

 

[mete]

It depends on exactly what you are going to do with it .Yes you can get already hardened rod as in the graver stock. You can get unhardened 'drill rod' made of something like W-1 or perhaps O-1. O-1 would be a good choice for many uses.

 

[gmulligan]

Thanks Mete,

I have been using O-1, but not hardening it. I never needed anything else when I used 3/16" stock, but I made a piece for that friend out of the 1/8" stiock and two tools bend! Ouch! I realize that hardening may be the answer, but I have never tried doing that before (my background is music).

 

[malcolm47]

You could make it out of a small square/round file then temper it in you kitchen oven.

 

[gmulligan]

Thanks Malcolm47, I'll keep that in mind.