Creative Ways to get Steel

A

Aqualiteking

Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
26
I'm a bit low on cash and I need to get some steel. Do you know some good places to get it? I know about old files raps and saw blades is there any thing else?
 
Use old worn out files, just anneal them, grind your profile, heat treat it, put together the handles, and sharpen lastly.
 
Creative but perhaps not easy to organise: I thought about Boker who used the very strong steel of a Leopard tank barrel.
 
Spring steel can be found at junkyards. Its essentially 1050 carbon steel (IIRC).

Might want to ask around any local machine/tool/manufacturing shops. They might have usable scraps leftover.
 
ive heard lawnmower blades?? is this accurate? I have a friend that has 2 knives made out of them and I think his dad made a sword out of an old leaf spring.
 
You pay for it one way or another.

You ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO figure out how to heat treat whatever you end up with, if you want it to be anything more than a paperweight that is.

For instance, Lawnmower blades. You spend most of your time and energy trying to straighten them out, then you cut them down and make a knife.
How much time, money, energy goes into all this?

Would it be easier to order something with known quality in a form that is easier to work with and pay a premium?

When I cant afford to order something good. Say $200+ of S30V or something there likes, I go out and buy some blades and make handles to get my fix. (BTW, $200 of S30V lasts me several years as I dont make many knives...)

Google Ragweed Forge for blades, it is where I get my blades.
 
gazz98 said:
Spring steel can be found at junkyards. Its essentially 1050 carbon steel (IIRC).

Might want to ask around any local machine/tool/manufacturing shops. They might have usable scraps leftover.
Click to expand...

Mostly 5160, actually. Leaf springs can make great knives.

Nice avatar. ;)
 
Ummm if you can't afford steel you can't afford to make a knife. You can get a 5' bar of 1084 from Admiral for $7 plus shipping.
 
I'm not saying i can't afford it, I'm strapped for cash. Thanks me and a friend found a rusting truck left by a stream. cut the leaf springs off with a angle grinder.
 
I don't know where you're located, but in Kansas City, MO I know there's a place called "Metal By The Foot." They may be in other cities, too.
 
Look up yuor nearest sawmill, if it cuts large logs it's better since the blades would be thicker.

Ask them for cracked saws and I pretty much guarantee that you'll get it for free. The steel is 15N2 which is a carbon steel with 0.75% carbon and 2% Nickel. It's not stainless but otherwise a good knife steel. If you are in the US you have about an 60% chance the steel is from Uddeholm, a 20% chance it's ours (Sandvik) or a 20% it's japanese or german. The sawmill guys will know.

Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top