HSS bar supplier ?

[Alain M-D]

Hello everybody !
I look for some HSS steel bar and rod to make turning chisels.
Do you know a suplier selling it ? This steel it is supplied
soft or hardened ? How I can harden it (somebody have
some info about heat treating HSS ?). Thanks !

Alain M-D

 

[Robert Mayo]

Try this link they will also have the heat treating info for what ever steel you purchase foe your chisels.
Bob
http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/MSC-home.aspx

 

[Alain M-D]

M2 and M4 seem to be the most used HSS for turning chisels.
I do not find these steel anywhere...

I know I can use knifemaking steel (A2, D2, ATS-34, etc)
but I look for a steel able to handle the heat generate by
turning witout damaging the tempering of the tool...

Alain M-D

 

[stevomiller]

McMaster-Carr sells M-2 drill rod in all diameters and lengths. http://www.mcmaster.com/

Good luck with your project,
Stevo

 

[Larrin]

Try Crucible steel: http://www.crucibleservice.com/contact/regionUS.cfm Just call up the center closest to you.

Edit: For heat treatment you should probably send it to a professional heat treater, for knives a lot of people like Paul Bos, who can probably do woodworking tools just fine (his standard M2 heat treatment should work just fine).

 

[Steve Hayden]

M2 and M4 seem to be the most used HSS for turning chisels.
I do not find these steel anywhere...

I know I can use knifemaking steel (A2, D2, ATS-34, etc)
but I look for a steel able to handle the heat generate by
turning witout damaging the tempering of the tool...

Alain M-D

A lot of woodworking tools are made from A2 because of the increased toughness. It is only marginally less wear resistant than HSS and most woodworkers are sharpening fanatics anyway. M2 will cost 4 to 5 times as much for the bars and is nowhere near as easy to heat treat.

 

[B Finnigan]

I was pleasantly surprised to find out Crucible Steel has a relatively small minimum order ($50). It seems so many steel suppliers only want to sell to you if you are planning on building a bridge or highrise building.

 

[Larrin]

I was pleasantly surprised to find out Crucible Steel has a relatively small minimum order ($50). It seems so many steel suppliers only want to sell to you if you are planning on building a bridge or highrise building.

That is part of the reason for their relative popularity in the knife business. Very easy to work with, most steels availble in knife sizes, low minimum order, knowledgeable people if you call the service center (Dallas is best for knives), and the development of new steels (3V, S30V, CPM154, etc.), and more on the way.

 

[B Finnigan]

I bought some of thier Rex 76 HSS to make some lathe bits out of. It comes out to about $50 a foot for a 1/8x1 1/4" length.

 

[Alain M-D]

Thanks all for your answer !
That seem that HSS is pretty expensive... I Have a lot of knifemaking
steel here, do you think that a steel like ATS-34, D2 or a CPM (S30v or 3V)
could work ok for this kind of use? (Which is their tempering temp?). And A2
it is better for this kind of use ?

Alain

 

[Larrin]

Thanks all for your answer !
That seem that HSS is pretty expensive... I Have a lot of knifemaking
steel here, do you think that a steel like ATS-34, D2 or a CPM (S30v or 3V)
could work ok for this kind of use? (Which is their tempering temp?). And A2
it is better for this kind of use ?

Alain

There was a website where a guy did sharpness and edge retention tests and 3V and M2 performed just about identically. 3V would be a great choice IMO. It has a temper of 975F I think.