Lawnmower Blade Machete

Come on, guys. AT least help explain why not to use a lawnmower blade and what will result if you do. I know I've heard Stacy explain it elsewhere, so I'll try to paraphrase.

Geometry is what cuts. Steel type and heat treat will determine how often you need to sharpen it. If you doubt this, think about a paper-cut.

If you are making a knife because you want to be able to say you made a knife, then why not spend the $10 on a good piece of steel and be able to say it is a good knife? However, I'm not going to tell you not to, because I know that there is no better way to get me to do something than tell me it can't/shouldn't be done.
 
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Pretty well said, Charles.

Any blade, made from any steel will get sharp and cut things. Some will cut once, some will cut for a while, and some will cut for a long time. The steel choice, task, and HT will determine which one your knife is.

Lawn mower blades are made to be tough, not hard. A few ( very few) are hardenable steel, but the vast majority of home type mower blades are made to bend if they hit something. This requires a steel that is tough, but not hard. A $10-20 bar of 1084 will make the same knife with the same ease ( maybe easier), and when the HT is done will hold a good edge for a good while.

Would you spend two hours watching a bad movie, just because it was cheap or free....or would you rather spend a few dollars and watch a great movie that you will enjoy and feel good about later.

Your money - Your choice...."Choose wisely Grasshopah". ( most of the guys reading this won't get that comment :) )
 
zaph1 said:
If you are making a knife because you want to be able to say you made a knife, then why not spend the $10 on a good piece of steel and be able to say it is a good knife?
Click to expand...

Nope, I just want to repurpose this old hunk of metal.

The blade I have is from the 60's and with the amount of rust on it I cannot see how it doesn't have the ability to become hard, it's got to have some carbon content no? Compared to a more modern blade on my mower now which I never clean or take care of the mower at all and the blade is spotless.

I have no interest In being a newb knifemaker, I just feel bad looking at this hunk of steel I Bly years doing nothing. Like the "decorative" machetes and scythes I keep rescuing from fences, why leave something to rot?
 
Rust is iron oxide, not carbon oxide. It's the chromium in stainless that makes it stainless.
 
Wheter you can see or comprehend doesn't matter. Facts matter.
 
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