Buyer Beware: bent W2 from Aldo

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J. Doyle said:
Your two above quotes are kind of at odds with each other. I wasn't being condescending, it was YOU who called your straightening abilities into question. Then you said that you 'can and have straightened steel before'.

Did you pay extra for perfectly flat, straight steel? Did Aldo ever state or imply that the steel bars would be perfectly straight and flat? He's never said or even hinted at that that I'm aware of.

Like I said, if that bent piece of steel causes you that much grief, knifemaking is gonna be rough for you. What are you going to do when you quench a blade and it warps?

As far as how you were treated on the phone, I'd take that up with Aldo as neither I nor anyone else here can speak with any authority on the matter.

I encourage you again to practice your straightening with the bent piece and move on.

Or maybe you should just stick with actual precision ground steel. Either way.
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I encourage you to consider the topic of this thread. This isn't a thread about my ability to straighten bent steel.

The manner in which you called my knifemaking ability into question IS condescending and I will not be responding to anymore of your comments.
 
Interesting discussion. I've ordered a bunch from Aldo over the past few years. My only complaint is that they don't respond to email. Why list an email contact? I was wondering when the 1075 0.25" would be restocked.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
With all due respect, you didn't pay for straight steel, or it would have specified precision ground. While there is no warning of a potential bend or warp, there isn't any guarantee written that it will be straight within any tolerance. I'm not saying that this allows for receiving a piece of steel that looks like a wagon wheel rim, but I'd say 1/4" of bend over 48" is almost to be expected.

Trust me, I love getting straight steel (and lumber too, for that matter) as much as you do, and I'd be lying if I said I enjoy having to straighten flat stock when it comes looking like a rocking chair leg (especially the thicker stuff), but it really doesn't matter who you order from, you're bound to get a piece like that from time to time, ESPECIALLY in longer pieces.

Now, as for how you were talked to over the phone, I can't really comment on that, as I was not part of the conversation, nor have I ever personally talked to Aldo or any of his employees. Personally, I don't occasionally buy from his company because I have any affection towards the man, one way or the other, but because I know I'm getting quality steel, and because he may have what I need in the dimensions I need, where others may not.

At any rate, you're certainly free to vote with your money and take business elsewhere. I buy steel from more than just one place too.
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Did you see the picture? We aren't talking about a slight bend here. It's a huge bend down the entire length of the piece.

Suggesting that this degree of bend is acceptable because it isn't "precision ground" is BS.
 
One last time, you called your own abilities into question.

There seems to be two 'issues' here:

1: Bent steel- not really an issue. It's pretty normal and common and not considered a defect, inferior product, bad service etc....

2: You didn't like the way you were treated on the phone. That may or may not have merit but it shouldn't be discussed or resolved here.
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
Did you see the picture? We aren't talking about a slight bend here. It's a huge bend down the entire length of the piece.

Suggesting that this degree of bend is acceptable because it isn't "precision ground" is BS.
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I do see it, but we may just have to agree to disagree. I will agree that it's not ideal, and certainly poses an inconvenience, but to say whether it's acceptable or not? I guess that depends on expectation.
Having spent years working for some of the largest rolling mills in the world, I suppose I have different expectations of what to expect from rolled, sheared, or otherwise processed steels.
 
How much nervous for a little bent steel :)


This is a warning from the German company where sometimes I buy some piece of steel ........ and every piece that I get is a little bent ... So What ? When I cut off a piece for knife it s so easy to straighten .......

Important info: The Steel is soft annealed and comes to us in big sheets (about 2x1m). The sheets are cut for us into stripes of 40 to 60mm.
Because of the cutting process the steel may be a little twisted, but it is easy to bend it straight again by using your knee, a vice, or hammer and anvil.
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If you got perfectly flat steel all these years you are lucky.

I only expect it from precision flat ground stock.
 
You have a right to post it here and for what its worth, consumer feedback is never bad. Everyone gets upset over different things but I would not complain about getting this in a 4 foot piece. I think it is an issue of expectations and not realizing that some amount of bend is within tolerance.

Are you planning to make a stock removal sword :rolleyes:? Once you cut it into 4 to 6 blanks i don't think you will notice much. I think it is a trivial problem to fix since it is not hardened. Better now than after a quench.

Just post it for sale on the forum. I'm sure somebody will buy it, and if you're upset with njsteelbaron then buy elsewhere.
 
Just some thing to compare this to. I purchase precision ground 01 steel sized 9/32 x 1/2 x 36 inches. Each one comes in its own wrapper. I buy 40 of these at a time and with shipping it comes to 860.00. The cost reflects the condition of the steel. If I purchase cold rolled and annealed I expect to surface it if I'm building something precise.

Aldo buys his steel by the ton and I know he works with regular suppliers. I think since you order a good bit of product, Aldo figured you new how to straighten it. Some one here will take it off your hands.

Regards, Fred
 
I think you're massively over reacting here. That's not a bad bend at all, and honestly if you've got flat steel for years... you've been incredibly lucky. ANY steel supplier that I have EVER dealt with would rightfully consider that a flat piece of steel. Unless you're paying for PGS stock, probably 90%+ of bar stock is sheared from rolled plate, and has a curve, many times much much worse than what you've pictured there. When I get steel bars, I use a 3 bar setup in my fly press to straighten them, it's just part of ordering steel.
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
Oh I'm not taking it as rude, just condescending. I don't need you questioning my knifemaking ability. I paid for straight steel and got bent steel. I can and have straightened steel before, I just HATE doing it. That's why I pay more to get steel from Aldo.

I've bought a ton of steel from Aldo over the years and have NEVER had a piece of steel bent like this. That is one of the main reasons I've ordered through him.

I didn't make this thread to discuss straightening steel. I started the thread to warn people about ordering W2 from NJ Steel Baron, because it can come bent. There's no warning or note on the website about it potentially being bent. To top it off I got treated poorly when I called about it.

Again, I know Aldo is loved here and up until today I was happy with everything I got from him. It doesn't really make a difference how the steel got bent, why it's bent, or how it can be straightened.
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The thread may not evolve how you want it to but there may be some people who'd offer to instruct how to straighten the bar. We'd learn something. All these guys are saying it's not a big deal to straighten the bar, maybe you're doing something wrong if it's hard for you? Maybe instead of arguing about it you could ask for some easy ways to straighten it since you said you had a hard time doing it.

FWIW I've seen very little patience for any kind of bashing on anyone, not just Aldo, in the knifemakers' areas. If you want to get a bunch of people riled up and bash on Aldo you could probably open a thread in feedback or in whine and cheese and get some other, more hostile, responses if that's what you're looking for. No disrespect intended.
 
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bodog said:
It may not evolve how you want it to but there may be some people who'd offer to instruct how to straighten the bar. We'd learn something. All these guys are saying it's not a big deal to straighten the bar, maybe you're doing something wrong if it's hard for you? Maybe instead of arguing about it you could ask for some easy ways to straighten it since you said you had a hard time doing it.
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Constructive! I like it, I admit I never had to much success straightening bent stock myself being a 100% stock removal guy. Ive just learned to grind it pretty damn even and let Peters do the straightening.

I wouldnt mind seeing a few straightening tips.
 
timos- said:
Constructive! I like it, I admit I never had to much success straightening bent stock myself being a 100% stock removal guy. Ive just learned to grind it pretty damn even and let Peters do the straightening.

I wouldnt mind seeing a few straightening tips.
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As other's have stated, a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer on a flat surface can go a long way. Sometimes just grabbing either end and putting a little pressure in the middle does most of the work.
Personally, I don't typically try to straighten all 4 feet at once, but cut the amount I need and evaluate that. Some times it ends up being straight enough to profile and heat treat, and then if it needs a little extra straightening, I'll do it right after quench, as it's cooling, or clamp it while tempering. If it's very minimal, I'll just run a few passes on my surface grinder, or just on the flat platen.

The three point method in a vise or a press can also make short work of things.
 
Yeah, it's unfortunate that you weren't aware of this, but unless you're specifically ordering straightened, or precision ground stock, mild bends, warps, decarb, mill scale, etc. is all part of the game with rough stock.

Your expectations otherwise are unwarranted. Sorry.


I'll clue you in on something else, none of those bars you get are even remotely the fractional thickness you ordered either, and no promises were made that they were. This is all standard practice (stock is over thickness (and usually width, and length) to accommodate machining or working to nominal otherwise).
 
I'd cut off the last six inches furthest away in the pic, bet it lays flat. I agree with, if you have purchased this much steel with no complaints, you are way ahead of the game. Relax and take a breath, its all good. You may have caught Aldo on a bad day, give the guy a break, he is a hell of a nice guy.
 
I am also curious like redeagle66 about the length of blades you are making with this? Also, from the picture, the bend seems to be more at the end and get pretty flat towards the middle.
 
This thread has strayed far from what I intended it to be. Camn a mod please close it?

If anyone needs to make anymore personal comments or criticisms to me regarding my ability to make knives or bend steel please email me at:

jgordon83@hotmail.com
 
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It is unfortunate that your expectations were not met. As far as the product that you purchased-it is within the specs for comparable items from other suppliers. As Aldo sent you a product that was not defective, he should not have to pay for your misconceptions. However, Aldo could have more information on the acceptable specs for the products he supplies. Similar to the grading and description of lumber. This might help to minimize future misconceptions.
 
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