Hardened Blanks...

R

RobMofSD

Joined
Nov 3, 2022
Messages
65
So I always hear people recommend buying hardened blanks to work on plunge lines and grinds... but I have yet to see blanks that have not been ground in. Where do people find them?

Thanks!
 
RobMofSD said:
So I always hear people recommend buying hardened blanks to work on plunge lines and grinds... but I have yet to see blanks that have not been ground in. Where do people find them?

Thanks!
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I might be wrong here, but … ithink mostly people have recommended using mild steel (from a hardware store) to practice on. Cheap, readily available. A little different feel from hardened steel, but still not too far from the “real” thing..
 
e asked where to get hardened blanks, but I agree with Cushing that if he just wants to practice plunce lines all he needs is a few 1/8" by 1.25 by 36" bars of cheap flat welding steel.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
e asked where to get hardened blanks, but I agree with Cushing that if he just wants to practice plunce lines all he needs is a few 1/8" by 1.25 by 36" bars of cheap flat welding steel.
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That is why I tried to qualify my response with "I might be wrong here" :-) Personally, it really pis**..... errr, sorry, "frustrates" me when people answer a question that is different from the one that is asked..... :-)

If one *really* wants hardened blanks, probably the easiest way to get them is to buy some really inexpensive steel, cut to 6" or so lengths, then send them off for HT. Cant say that I am privy to a source that specifically sells hardened non-profiled pieces of steel......
 
Cushing H. said:
That is why I tried to qualify my response with "I might be wrong here" :) Personally, it really pis**..... errr, sorry, "frustrates" me when people answer a question that is different from the one that is asked..... :)

If one *really* wants hardened blanks, probably the easiest way to get them is to buy some really inexpensive steel, cut to 6" or so lengths, then send them off for HT. Cant say that I am privy to a source that specifically sells hardened non-profiled pieces of steel......
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Oh I don't mind the other recommendations. It does teach a few different things.

I am of the mind of practice practice practice.
 
I didn't think of it, but many machinist suppliers, like McMaster-Carr, sell hardened steel bars.

Probably cheaper to buy some lower cost carbon steel like W2, 1095, or 5160 and have someone harden them. You should profile them before HT and if they turn out OK you have a knife.

If you want to practice on flat stock (hardened or not) use 12" bars. Start at the 5.5" point and grind the bevels back to the end. Turn the bar around and start an inch from that grind and do it again going the other way. You will have two sets of bevels to compare on each bar. If you want to practice tips at the same time, just grind a curve in the bar to the top/spine on each end before doing the bevels.
 
What about practicing on old, crappy hard files, planner blanks, or what I do.....

Even though I use good "real steel"
I still occasionally LOVE to make knives out of Very Hard..... Power hacksaw blades.

Hereis one I'm actually making literally Now.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I didn't think of it, but many machinist suppliers, like McMaster-Carr, sell hardened steel bars.

Probably cheaper to buy some lower cost carbon steel like W2, 1095, or 5160 and have someone harden them. You should profile them before HT and if they turn out OK you have a knife.

If you want to practice on flat stock (hardened or not) use 12" bars. Start at the 5.5" point and grind the bevels back to the end. Turn the bar around and start an inch from that grind and do it again going the other way. You will have two sets of bevels to compare on each bar. If you want to practice tips at the same time, just grind a curve in the bar to the top/spine on each end before doing the bevels.
Click to expand...
Right now I am grinding 1095 bar stock.
 
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