Do you buy your steel decarbed?

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blindrobert

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Jan 15, 2014
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I'm looking into placing my first order for tool steel for forge work. Some of the steels offered by Bruno have an option for decarbing - do you more experienced bladesmiths usually buy decarbed steel?

I tried searching around for something relevant but wasn't really finding an answer. Not sure I understand the advantages/disadvantages of raw vs decarbed tool steel for forging knives.
 
I think the advantage is more for the stock removal guys. It is just one less step that you need to do and you burn up less belts. I don't forge so I don't really know if the same would apply.
 
You are going to get it all scaled up anyway so I wouldn't worry about it for the extra cost.
 
If you're gonna forge, buy your steel in the cheapest form you can get. If you're gonna go the stock removal route, cleanly ground steel is worth every extra penny it costs. When you consider the time and abrasives you save grinding the scale off yourself, ground steel is really a bargain.
 
Aldo sells most of the decarb steel to damascus makers; when it comes in this form it can be cut and stacked without the need to grind the surface clean. I buy it from Aldo in this condition.
 
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