Blade Steel - What should I try next?

O

otpowell

Joined
Jun 26, 2013
Messages
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I have some O1 & 1095, what blade steel should I try next? Thinking of trying some W2 or some 5160. Something that's easier to HT and quench myself.
 
Broomhead said:
Buy a bunch of Aldo's 1084 and stick to one steel for awhile.
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Agreed. From your previous posts, you are a beginner with a propane forge (I'm speaking as a relative beginner with a propane forge ;) ). 1084 is the steel for you. Send the O1 and 1095 out to have a pro heat treat it for you.
 
Does he have a decent propane forge or a little two brick guy? I use my forge to HT and it works really well for 1095/52100/1084/1075/W1/W2. Those are the steels I have worked with the most. Most of my experience has been with W2 and 52100 and I can get both screaming hard with good grain structure.
 
Aldo's 1084 .
Where are you guys buying this at I've searched and I got some 1084 from usa knife maker. Com
 
1084 really has been a great steel to work with and makes fine blades.
 
quint said:
Does he have a decent propane forge or a little two brick guy? I use my forge to HT and it works really well for 1095/52100/1084/1075/W1/W2. Those are the steels I have worked with the most. Most of my experience has been with W2 and 52100 and I can get both screaming hard with good grain structure.
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My forge is a 6 brick forge. I don't like it cuz it's fragile so I'm gonna get an air tank, kao-wool, and some ITC100 and make a new forge.. Also working on a new burner which I have a question on. I'm gonna start a new post.
 
When I first came to this side of the fourm everyone responds " I got it from Aldo" New guys then have to search out who the hell that is. :)
To make it easy on you it's http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/
Its a fantastic place to buy from and 1084 is a awesome steel that happens to "also" be great for starting out.
 
mc556 said:
When I first came to this side of the fourm everyone responds " I got it from Aldo" New guys then have to search out who the hell that is. :)
To make it easy on you it's http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/
Its a fantastic place to buy from and 1084 is a awesome steel that happens to "also" be great for starting out.
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Thanks guys. I'm getting there, have some mods to do to my 2x72 belt grinder and making some mods to my forge and burner.. Hope to be up and running in a few weeks.
 
Not trying to derail otpowell's post but...

Everyone always recommends Aldo's 1084. I've been looking every couple days for well over a month and have yet to find any in stock, in any size.

Chris
 
otpowell said:
Thanks guys. I'm getting there, have some mods to do to my 2x72 belt grinder and making some mods to my forge and burner.. Hope to be up and running in a few weeks.
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Once you get it set up and learn how to control it should open up some doors for you. Its still gonna be your friend only with carbon steel but you should be able to do several of the different ones. A muffle is a must for the most part. It keeps the direct flame off the blade. I use a 2" square steel tube about a foot long. Works pretty good. I would still like to get a oven eventually but dont have 240 in the garage and dont wanna spend that money on a 120v one if I can help it. Ofcourse then again who knows it would be nice to not have to baby sit stuff so much.
 
Salolan said:
Not trying to derail otpowell's post but...

Everyone always recommends Aldo's 1084. I've been looking every couple days for well over a month and have yet to find any in stock, in any size.

Chris
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Call Aldo is what I've heard over and over. He prefers to do business the traditional ways. A good steel that is relatively easy to heat treat is 15n20 if you can't get the 1084.
 
Thank you Willie.

I just ordered some 1080 and some 15n20 from Kelly Cupples. He had sent me a price sheet a few weeks ago and had the 1080 in stock so I just went with him.

Chris
 
Yeah 1084 is great it can be used from anything from small folders to large choppers and is so easy to heat-treat, but O-1 is also relatively easy to heat treat.
 
quint said:
Once you get it set up and learn how to control it should open up some doors for you. Its still gonna be your friend only with carbon steel but you should be able to do several of the different ones. A muffle is a must for the most part. It keeps the direct flame off the blade. I use a 2" square steel tube about a foot long. Works pretty good. I would still like to get a oven eventually but dont have 240 in the garage and dont wanna spend that money on a 120v one if I can help it. Ofcourse then again who knows it would be nice to not have to baby sit stuff so much.
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Thanks! I don't blame you on the power. I have a 50 amp 250v outlet for my welder and it's a huge difference in power.
 
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