need help for a steel supplier

T

The Horseman

Joined
Oct 30, 2018
Messages
1
I need a good supplier of blade quality steel, I have been buying from NJ Steel Baron and they seem to be out of everything reasonable in cost. It's like they want you to buy the real expensive material.
could use some help, thanks
 
Blade steel is not a commodity, and blade steel supply is not a public service. There is absolutely no reason to think that your desired grade/size will be sitting on the shelf waiting for you when you're ready to buy. Mild to severe frustration is usually part of the purchasing experience at all levels of the game. If you think buying from NJSB is frustrating, try buying from the mill.

As for other options, I think the sticky threads list a lot of vendors.
 
Without further details on what you are looking for I can only guess as to what you need.

as far as steel suppliers I order from
Alpha Knife Supply
Jantz
USAknifemaker

All have various steels in a range of thicknesses.
 
Yes, many don't know that Adlo (NJSB) buys steel in 15,000 pound lots. He has it rolled into several sizes, and saws it into several widths. That 15,000 pounds may get sold out in a month. The most common sizes are often sold out in weeks. Look at other widths and thicknesses to see if there is another that will work for you. Also, when it says, OUT OF STOCK, call Aldo. He may have some in the back he hasn't cut up yet or a few bars leaning against the wall.

About 15 years ago, I recall standing around with Aldo in the dark and cold up at Bill Morans when he was just tagging along with a friend. He asked "Where do you guys buy your steel?" We told him there were few sources and the alloys we wanted were slim picking. He said, "Hell, I might as well go into the steel business. Plumbing fixtures hasn't made me rich." After a few starts and stops, NJSB was born.
 
I've only heard good stuff from the NJ Steel baron.
I've only heard good stuff from Alpha, USAknifemakers, Jantz, etc, too.

Personally, I suspect steel tariffs kicking in.
 
The Horseman said:
I need a good supplier of blade quality steel, I have been buying from NJ Steel Baron and they seem to be out of everything reasonable in cost. It's like they want you to buy the real expensive material.
could use some help, thanks
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I’m not for or against NJSB. What are you looking for, and what price range? I’ve noticed some of my favorite steels have gone up in price since the steel tariffs. Maybe it’s people capitalizing, but probably not. Tariffs result in higher prices, in most cases. Not meaning to be political, but this is a modern reality. The economy is global.
 
I like Jantz. Your mileage may vary, but because I live ~150 miles from Jantz, pretty much every steel order comes the next day after shipping. A couple months ago I ordered some steel from them at 1 am on Wednesday morning and the steel arrived at 1 pm Thursday afternoon. To me that's worth the extra cost. I can't truly judge NJSB as my order hasn't even shipped yet. All I'm willing to say right now is that I like Jantz.
 
I’m really surprised no one listed admiral steel. I get my AEBL from chuck and have been happy with it.
 
JTknives said:
I’m really surprised no one listed admiral steel. I get my AEBL from chuck and have been happy with it.
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I was thinking the same thing. Thought I was messing up by using Admiral...

BTW, never seen AEBL listed on their site before.


*Just looked, still not there? How you ordering this?
 
Coy, if I remember right, “Chuck” whom JT is referring to is the guy behind Alpha Knife Suppy...

I could be wrong though.
 
In the past I used NJSB, but for the last couple years I found Admiral, USA & Alpha better suited for hobbiest sellers like myself. I certainly haven’t noticed any price increase due to tariffs.. Maybe on a larger scale? I know dema-libs are barking about higher prices any chance they can..., but it’s just not reality. The steel I just purchased from USA KW recently, was the same price it was a year...or 2 years ago.
 
One Armed said:
In the past I used NJSB, but for the last couple years I found Admiral, USA & Alpha better suited for hobbiest sellers like myself. I certainly haven’t noticed any price increase due to tariffs.. Maybe on a larger scale? I know dema-libs are barking about higher prices any chance they can..., but it’s just not reality. The steel I just purchased from USA KW recently, was the same price it was a year...or 2 years ago.
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If they have existing stock they are probably playing fair and holding the price the same. I cant see anyone who is just selling steel eating a 25% cost increase. That would likely involve them selling below cost. A large number of our knife steels do come from Europe after all.
 
Reality is there IS a tarrif on imported steel and it WILL be passed on to the consumer. Us steel plants aren't going to reopen long closed facilities unless things get insanely expensive. So all the tarrifs have done is increase the cost to the consumer, and hurt the sellers bottom line via lost sales.
 
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