Metals: Where & $$$

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
1,598
Ok. So I had an order for some ATS34 from Texas Knife and ended up having to email them to find out that it was out of stock. So I got a full refund. Just out of curiosity I called my local metal shop and asked about some steel. They had A36 steel there for approx $3 a square foot. Which was crazy cheap but Google is great and found out nobody uses it for knives because of its mild state. I went ahead and got a few chunks to practice on. Anyways, I asked what he could order for high grade steel. He said that he suggests using CPM154 or 154Cm. And the prices per linear square foot seemed outrageous to me. They were both 4 inches wide, and a linear foot was $90 for one, and $150 for the other. Is that right??? I then asked about some 440C and he said at 1 1/2 width a linear foot would be around $40+??? After hearing that I practically just said thanks for your time and walked out, since Texas knife has 1 1/2 linear feet of 440C for $9.95. Is this guy I'm dealing with nuts? Or am I missing something?

Also, where do you guys buy your steel? And how much do you pay?
 
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Why would you think Texas Knifemaker price would not be competitive? Did you check with USA Knifmaker Supply an d Alfa Knife Supply. It's a competitive thing like most items that are in demand. Frank
 
I never said they wouldnt be competitive, I was just extremely caught off guard on this local guys prices. So I've come here where you guys are actually experienced, and wanted some suggestions. I'm just starting out so I don't want to get into anything like CPM154 or anything, but want something decent to start with and I hope to get it at, at least an average price.
 
Do yourself a huge favor and go to alphaknifesupply.com
They have a lot of steels in stock ready to ship and they have a $25 minimum and charge actual shipping costs.
 
Aldo

If the local shop does not have it on the shelf
(and none of them do)

They have to order it and you will pay double the price they pay, plus double their shipping fees plus a PIT a factor since they don't really want to do it.
 
Call the New Jersey Steel Baron,1084 is what you want.If he dont have it he will likely have something you can use.Tell him your new to the craft and he will fix you up.
 
AKS looks like a decent place to buy, just not sure what steel I should start with. And also, I'm doing the "ghetto" method to find the center of the edge with a drill bit. AKS has funky sizes. I wanted 1/8" but they seem to only have .106 or .148 in most I'm looking at.
 
gredpe3 said:
Call the New Jersey Steel Baron,1084 is what you want.If he dont have it he will likely have something you can use.Tell him your new to the craft and he will fix you up.
Click to expand...

That 1084 is cheap! Is it a decent steel? I was mainly looking at all the stainless material because I don't know much about the HC stuff.
 
1084 ,perfect for beginners,easy to heat-treat,takes and holds a good edge.The price makes it a good steel to learn with.How many blades have you made?What are you working with,as far as tools go ?
 
Theoretically, zero. lol Well I'm just starting out. Literally. I just got a 1x30 belt sander and the normal garage tools that will do the job, just not as well or as fast as the big boy machines. I was toying around with some aluminum stock I had and shaped out a blade and put a decent edge on it. Yes I know that probably is a sin in the knife making world, but that's all I had at the time and well, getting a new tool in the garage I had to use it! Now I just picked up a couple 8 inch pieces of A36, which I know, shouldn't be used on a knife, but just wanted to get some more practice in. I have everything I need to make a knife, except for some decent steel. I ordered some exotic slabs, SS rod for pins, epoxy, and have even been calling around about heat treat prices. I'm ready to get started.
 
You know the right steel is the most important part right? Do you have Files and sandpaper,cause your gonna need em.
 
gredpe3 said:
You know the right steel is the most important part right? Do you have Files and sandpaper,cause your gonna need em.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you. But since I'm starting out, I don't want to go into the pricier steel quite yet. So I may just order up some of the 1084 from NJ Steel Baron. Only thing that bothers me is shipping is more than the steel! lol. But I guess a 1.5" x 48" slab of steel for $38 isnt bad at all to start.
 
Ordered up 48" of 1084, and they had overstock prices on some CPM 154CM so I got a foot of that for $17! Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. I read up on the 1084. Looks like an all around good steel so. At this price can't go wrong.
 
Just starting out myself, and based on everything I've read and what experienced knife makers here have told me, 1084 is where you want to start.

It's not as finicky to work with as some steels, can be heat treated fairly simply and quenched with canola oil...and it makes great blades.
 
colu41 said:
I never said they wouldnt be competitive, I was just extremely caught off guard on this local guys prices. So I've come here where you guys are actually experienced, and wanted some suggestions. I'm just starting out so I don't want to get into anything like CPM154 or anything, but want something decent to start with and I hope to get it at, at least an average price.
Click to expand...

The 1084 is perfect for starters.
 
Sounds like you are on the right track. For safety reasons make sure you clean up all that aluminum dust and keep it separate from your steel dust. They are a very combustible combo.
 
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