Blades from machete steel?

S

Sword and Shield

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Apr 3, 2004
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I'm looking to make a simple beater/toolbox blade, and I'm a bit short on the cash to lay out for virgin 1095. However, I do have a few old/broken Collins machetes lying around.

Any idea on what the steel is in these? How would they be as the steel for a toolbox beater?
 
Who knows what kind of steel it is, prolly 1060 or something, but, I'm sure it'd work fine for a "tool box beater" blade. It is knife steel after all...
Nicholson files are supposedly W1 or 1095 so if you have one laying around it's another option.
 
A 3/16"x1-1/2"x18" piece of 1095 is $8.95 plus about $7 shipping from Jantz Supply.
 
You can test the steel with vinegar or lemon juice. Apply liberally and let it sit on the steel for up to 30 minutes; it may not take nearly that long. If the steel turns dark, it is high carbon. (don't worry, the darkness is a thin layer of oxidation you can remove with steel wool.) If it doesn't, it's stainless. This isn't terribly scientific, but will give you a rough idea what kind of steel it is.

Did you like the machetes? If they took a nice edge and held it to your satisfaction, I say go for it. Just be careful not to get the steel too hot when cutting/grinding it or you will ruin the temper. Use the existing pin-holes in the tang if possible. If not... you'll likely have problems trying to drill it for handle pins/bolts. Since you don't want to buy steel, I'll refrain from recommending a $15 carbide bit. Grind a narrow tang and build a mortised handle.

It will probably be just fine for a tool-box knife.

What kind of tools do you have? I like Nicholson file knives a lot but would hate to attempt to shape one without a belt-grinder. Regardless, it will need to be tempered back a bit first. A machete is likely thin enough to put a nice bevel on without having to wear out your elbows filing.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
A 3/16"x1-1/2"x18" piece of 1095 is $8.95 plus about $7 shipping from Jantz Supply.
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True. However, one additional problem is heat treating. I made a few from 1095 last summer, and while I can get a level of function/looks I approve of, the method I used to HT (bellows, charcoal fire) failed miserably. My next option would be an acetylene torch, but I'm leery.

As for the machetes, one is my father's and got tons of time in his surveying days. The other is mine, and works very nicely.

I have quite a few carbide/HSS bits lying about from my side job building/installing window bars, so drilling for pins isn't a challenge. I also have a 1x30 Delta grinder kicking around, though I need more belts.
 
Sword and Shield said:
I made a few from 1095 last summer, and while I can get a level of function/looks I approve of, the method I used to HT (bellows, charcoal fire) failed miserably.
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I mentioned 1095 pricing, as your first post stated that you couldn't afford it. There are an overwhelming number of sources of quality steels, many of which can be heat treated with meager equipment. The benefits of using steel of a known type are obvious, and frankly, the topic has been beaten to death on this particular subforum.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
I mentioned 1095 pricing, as your first post stated that you couldn't afford it. There are an overwhelming number of sources of quality steels, many of which can be heat treated with meager equipment. The benefits of using steel of a known type are obvious, and frankly, the topic has been beaten to death on this particular subforum.
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The HT is the problem. I was planning on knocking out a few machete cutoffs just as users, and saving up for some form of HT equipment, but at the moment all I have is a decent size fire pit and an acetylene torch.
 
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