'brake' steel

enix

enix

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
455
This is my first post in the makers forum and not quite sure wether this is the right place for my question, but here i go.

I just got some 'brake' steel. Its not from car breaks but rather a press brake.
All i know for sure is the size, 6''x4''x.5'' and that it work hardends. I plan on makeing a knife over what will probably end up to be 6 mths. I have been reading my ass off online and with some books i bought. anyway, on to my question(s): What type of steel is this exactly (1095, d2, 154cm, etc) or what type of steel does it closely comapre to. And, what should i expect when working w/ this steel that might not be normally discussed in books. Thanks in advance for reading this and any help you maybe able to provide.
 
I have no idea, it came from the machine shop at a facctory that makes A/C and heating units.

When i ask the person i got it from will they know what i mean when i ask the same question, or are there more specific questions i should ask?
 
Enix,
You would be better off buying a known steel. You will save yourself a lot of time and heartache. The only way to know for sure what steel you have would be to have it tested, and unless you have a bunch of it it's just not worth it.
Good luck
Mace
 
Mace said it in nice words. I'll be blunt:
You plan on investing six months of your life and many hours of learning and research into......what???? ....A piece of steel that you know nothing about.
This has the same chance of success as marrying a girl you met in Tijuana on a weekend trip (you don't know anything about her ,either.)

Get a piece of KNOWN steel. It shouldn't cost much at all. If you are on a super tight budget, drop me an email and I'll send you a foot of steel.

PS: Please fill out your profile so we know something about who you are and where you are.

Stacy
 
Stacy,
STRAIGHT to the point!:D I LOVE it:thumbup: All so very true.
Enix:
Check out this link to Admiral steel. http://www.admiralsteel.com/pdf/bladesteel.pdf
Notice how cheap 60" of 1/8x1-1/2"1075 is? Under eleven dollars for 5ft of it! Get some, make a knife and ask around here for someone to heat treat it. There are a few guys that will do it for 5 bucks a blade.
Good luck,
Matt Doyle
 
Many of us started making knives with the same mysteries in mind that you have in yours. Don't make your choice of steel one of those mysteries. You will encounter enough challenge without adding to it by not knowing what steel you are working with.
Good luck and enjoy yourself, Fred


Stacy,

"This has the same chance of success as marrying a girl you met in Tijuana on a weekend trip"

Success, in this case, depends on your expectations. I have been wildly successful in T-Town on a Saturday night. But, of course, I didn't marry the young lady, either.
Fred
 
Fred,
I think any comment like the previous should be accompanied with pictures!!!:D :D
Matt
 
Nearly all press brake material is pre-hardened 4140 or P20 type material. Usually only 0.30-0.40 carbon and very limited in hardenability. Unless you want the knife to be max 50ish HRC, I'd pass on making a knife from it.
 
To add to what everyone else said- many steels can be workhardened.
I would also recommend buying a piece of known steel.

Alex
 
To everyone who took time to help me with this: THANK YOU!!!
I do have some metal working experience from welding but i gather knife making will be very different. After reading all the posts (bladsmth's was my fav) i think i will still use this steel, but more as a prototype than anything. I will be buying some steel. What would anyone here recomend for a virgin knifemaker. I like the qualites of 1095 and D2, also i seem to have made a pretty solid connection w/ the fellow who supplied me w/ this brake steel, so maybe i can get the hookup on some known steel.
bladsmth: im picking up what ur puttin down, but i only plan to spend a few hrs a week with this project, so thats where i get 6 mths.

Again thanks to all, i really do appreciate it and hope to be trying to find someone for a heattreat soon.
 
Since you're not doing the heat treat, there are many options for which steel to choose. From my experience, I would choose a 10 series steel. 1095 is a good choice for most length blades.

Alex
 
1084 is an excellent steel to start with. It has a little easier HT than 1095, but performs nearly the same. O-1 is another good starter steel. If you like big knives, try 5160 . Taking your time to learn is a smart move. Keep us posted, and ask questions.

Thanks for filling out your profile, one of the Kansas fellows may be able to give you some hands on aid.
Stacy
 
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