Knife from mild steel

H

Halbrust

Joined
Aug 8, 2015
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91
It's not a knife, I know...

But is there merit in doing it to learn the necessary skills before using quality steel?

Blade steel isn't too expensive, but mild is free or just above free. I assume it cuts and sands the same. Would making a few knives in mild steel to learn the skills be a good thing? Or am I wrong and the steels do not react the same way and it will just be wasted time?
 
Mild steel is softer and will grind different and when you get it right you will have a nice looking knife that is useless. If the steel is free you can try it out. If you're buying it then 1084 is close to the same price you will pay for mild steel at the big box stores. I would just get some 1084. Its cheap enough.
 
Finishing a hardened blade is different than just working with soft mild steel so there is that to consider. Working with them pre heat treat will be similar. Do the 1084 and then you can even heat treat it yourself cheaply.
 
I wouldn't waste the time and energy on unknown steel. You may surprise yourself and have a really nice knife that is just pretty but not useable because it didn't harden then you would be bummed out about your first knife that won't cut up cardboard. Use some 1084 and take your time and even if its not the blue ribbon winner at the fair at the very least it will have a useable cutting edge and you will have pride in that....:thumbup:
 
I think it is absolutely worth the time and effort to profile out 10-20 mild steel knives and just practice grinding. Yes you may finish a few that could have been nice knives, so what? When you've got to the point that you are grinding those blanks consistently, buy the steel you want to use, not whatever is cheap, and make some real knives.

Bob

ETA- Here's my mild steel blades that I had to grind in my first knifemaking class. Big group are flat ground and smaller group are hollow.

Untitled by Bob, on Flickr

Untitled by Bob, on Flickr
 
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RangerBobTX said:
I think it is absolutely worth the time and effort to profile out 10-20 mild steel knives and just practice grinding. Yes you may finish a few that could have been nice knives, so what? When you've got to the point that you are grinding those blanks consistently, buy the steel you want to use, not whatever is cheap, and make some real knives.

Bob

ETA- Here's my mild steel blades that I had to grind in my first knifemaking class. Big group are flat ground and smaller group are hollow.

Untitled by Bob, on Flickr

Untitled by Bob, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Not trying to steal the thread..... Bob Just curious how much grinding had you done prior to the class? those look pretty consistent if that is the first time grinding at the class.

Mike
 
I tried to make some knives out of mild steel when I was a kid and didn't know anything about steel. The most frustrating thing was that they never cut anything. Once I learned about steel, I started making knives that were still ugly and terrible, but cut pretty well. Those knives were the best thing ever, because they looked like knives and they cut like knives. Like everyone else is saying, 1084 is only a little bit more expensive than mild steel, and will make an actual knife. 10 feet of real steel will cost less than an evening of drinking or a movie.

Chris
 
I have two opinions on this. If you just want to make a knife or two and get out or move on to something else then I think you should spend the money on good steel and a few files and go to town. May not be perfect but if you read the stuff here and study up you will have a decent knife that is usable.

If you are in it in the long run then I am all for practicing on mild steel. Belts, grinders, coal, quench oil, etc all cost a lot of money starting out and I think you are better off spending yours on those items while you nail down bevel grinding than you are making your scrap pile bigger and using sub-par tools. Car companies and blacksmiths use clay to try new things, I don't see why knife making is any different.

-Clint
 
Personally, I started out practicing with some mild flat stock. For one, I had found some in a tool shed, at no cost to me. The rest of it was left over from my NWGS, and was purchased at scrap cost, which was far cheaper than buying some high carbon knife steel.

The steel may be softer, but IMO, that really doesn't make a bit of difference when it comes to learning he mechanics of grinding. You're still following the exact same principles and making the same motions. What's nice about having the mild steel is that you get a pretty accurate representation of what the finished knife will feel like, weight and feel wise, and if anything, you have a reusable template that you can save for future knives.
 
Busto said:
Not trying to steal the thread..... Bob Just curious how much grinding had you done prior to the class? those look pretty consistent if that is the first time grinding at the class.

Mike
Click to expand...

They were all done at Johnny Stout's Beginner Knifemaking Class. I had ground about ten blades at that point mostly using a jig but, a couple without. None were really any good and I had not completed a knife. Johnny is a very good instructor and really laid it all out there. I did the flat ground blades on day one and the hollow on the morning of day two. From there, we moved on and built my class knife.

Bob

IMG_3855 by Bob, on Flickr
 
RangerBobTX said:
They were all done at Johnny Stout's Beginner Knifemaking Class. I had ground about ten blades at that point mostly using a jig but, a couple without. None were really any good and I had not completed a knife. Johnny is a very good instructor and really laid it all out there. I did the flat ground blades on day one and the hollow on the morning of day two. From there, we moved on and built my class knife.

Bob

IMG_3855 by Bob, on Flickr
Click to expand...

I would say that is a testament to anyone serious about this hobby or business to take a class. I've spent 30 years as a machinist at that government space agency where we have produced some remarkable parts that have flown in space and I have always collected knives so having a home machine shop I started out with some good tools and steels but in looking back I didn't have the time to take a class 20 years ago when I started making knives. I can see where a couple days in class can cut down on the learning curve. Thanx Bob
 
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