Heat treating?

[jackburton9807]

I am interested in making knives and, according to my wife, have no budget to do so. I will probably start out w/ the files and such as I will not be able to sneak any large power tools into the house. Is there any bar stock I can start with that does not need heat treatment?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[rlinger]

For a knife, I would so no. You can, though, heat treat some very popular what is called high carbon, simple carbon, steels with a propane tourch and you can find information on the how's of that by doing a search on this forum. You should also find information concerning tempering of such steels, which is normal after heat treating (hardening). Some high carbon steels are favorites of some excellent knife makers.

Work your steel in the soft - annealed - state, then harden it in order to make the edge persistant. An un-hardened edge (or blade) will not hold as a cutting tool and you will find it agonizing to fashion pre-hardened steel into a knife blade using hand tools - such as files and sanding papers.

When procuring your steel ask for it in the 'annealed state' they may refer to it as 'hot rolled', which is okay.

Here is a good source for a very good steel I can recommend as a non-stainless high carbon for you to start with (and perhaps fall in love with as a blade steel - O1 steel): http://www.admiralsteel.com/ For knives of 8 inches overall length (entire knife length) 1/8th inch thickness stock material seems popular and I suggest as a good thickness to start with.

Roger