is store bought steel any good

J

jpknives919

Joined
Apr 17, 2017
Messages
38
ive been talking to various mechanics and bladesmiths and they say that the metel industry is dropping the ball on their metal. ive heard that they melt ball barings and stuff down into the metal making hard and soft spots. ive got an unlimited supply of car parts and and giant wires and cables and horse rasps and various other random unknown metals
 
Yes, store bought steel is worth it. I use NJSB and have had no problems, it's nice knowing what you are working with.

Nothing wrong with using springs or rasps to me, it's all fun.

You will have more of a chance running into hit or miss steel using salvaged steel than buying from a reputable seller
 
Actually melting a harder and softer metal together is common and desirable because it describes (in this case crudely). How damascus can be made and it can be awesome if the right steel is used. But what you seem to be describing is a select group of people who dant care and are just mixing whatever X with whatever Y and not caring about the result. In pakistan that may be the case. But most companies and makers really take their steel seriously. I highly doubt you would go to any well know steel supplier for cutlery and get anything but what you asked for intentionally.
 
The "metal industry" is a VERY broad term...
Even when you break it down more specifically, talking about the just the "steel" industry, you're talking about a global industry that has thousands of foundries large and small in every corner of the civilised globe.

If you're buying homemade metal from your local scrapyard, then sure, you're more then likely getting a hodge-podge of who knows what.
If you buy from a reputable source, who sources their materials from reputable sources, then you're more then likely getting what you're paying for, as it truly is a science to metallurgy.

Even when you hear folks talk about "chinese" or "pakistani" steel being inferior, truth is, the risk is greater for duds due to lack of regulation and accountability, but those are large countries and nuclear powers. Pakistan for example is the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined. It's not like there is only just one foundry in the entire country churning up all of their steel, and it's all crap. If they have the technology (which is readily available), they can certainly produce the product, and I'm certain some foundries do a far better job of in house standards then others do. Just like some US foundries are far worse then others.

If you're getting something that starts with say; CPM (crucible), CTS (carpenter), Sandvik, Bohler-Uldhelm, etc, then rest assured those are trademarked alloys made specifically by some of the top renowned steel manufacturers in the world!
 
Last edited:
jpknives919 said:
ive been talking to various mechanics and bladesmiths and they say that the metel industry is dropping the ball on their metal. ive heard that they melt ball barings and stuff down into the metal making hard and soft spots. ive got an unlimited supply of car parts and and giant wires and cables and horse rasps and various other random unknown metals
Click to expand...

Hard and soft spots? Are you sure you're not talking to bakers?

When you properly smelt various steels the result is homogeneous. The ingots aren't all marbleized like a coffee cake.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Actually melting a harder and softer metal together is common and desirable because it describes (in this case crudely). How damascus can be made and it can be awesome if the right steel is used. But what you seem to be describing is a select group of people who dant care and are just mixing whatever X with whatever Y and not caring about the result. In pakistan that may be the case. But most companies and makers really take their steel seriously. I highly doubt you would go to any well know steel supplier for cutlery and get anything but what you asked for intentionally.
Click to expand...
 
this metal place is down the road and is called deland metalworks are there any places that have good steel but are afordable
 
no i really mean hard and soft spots some spots you can cut perfectky with the cutting torch but other spots you can barely cut at all
 
no sir its specificaly a metal place and only online im pretty sure but i mean im still a beginner so i think ill just stick to my leaf springs and stuff until i find some metal that i can afford and like
 
You can't just use any old generic "steel" for knifemaking; most is definitely NOT suitable for blades. There are many alloys that ARE very suitable for knifemaking, and you will need to do some searching on the internet and links right here on bladeforums.

I'm going to guess that what you're seeing at this steel seller is low priced structural steel, bottom of the barrel quality with contaminants and air inclusions, and nowhere near enough carbon to be heat treatable into a knife blade. Good for a lot of purposes, not for blades.
 
id order online from legit metal sellers who cater to blade making industry and youll get what ya want.

the place you are talking about does hand rails and things of that nature.
 
Ok I'll try guys but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it and even if I get some it'll be awhile till I can forge because we haven't had rain in about a month and a half
 
And I've heard a lot of good talk about using leaf springs and other random high carbon car parts and stuff
 
jpknives919 said:
Ok I'll try guys but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford it and even if I get some it'll be awhile till I can forge because we haven't had rain in about a month and a half
Click to expand...
yep...im just barely south of ya most of the time. spend some time in my polk place and on the gulf in dixie county. been dry. if it wasnt 60f in the mornings it would be like 98 again state burning down but it was super hot back in 98 and its kinda cool this time around compared.

yep leaf springs can be 5160 if my memory serves me right and thats a decent mid carbon steel for blades.

cant recommend steel sellers here unless a bf dealer. have to move to g,b,&u forum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top