Need input

D

dbreeze225

Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
84
Hey guys so i was posting in another thread with some good feedback but i was told i might get more help here. So first time making a knife i got some steel from Home depot, did my best to anneal it , cut it out and started filing. I now have been told this steel (a1011) is way to soft. So i was wondering if case hardening it would go deep enough just too get a edge on it. I dont plan on using it all that much so i dont think ill have to sharpen it that much too dig back into the soft metal. What you guys think?

Also i have seen videos and info on the web but did a search and couldn't find nothing on this forum on it. So....would a old file have enough carbon to hold a edge? I saw many videos of people doing this. Seems to work from what i can see. I am assuming i would have to anneal the file then harden when all the shaping is done. One question i do have....one page i came across the guy said that as your annealing you should take it out of the fire and hit with a hammer to knock off the top layer. make any sense? Please let me know what you guys think and since i am sure ill get good feed back like always THANKS ahead of time any info would be appreciated. i have read SOOOOO much on this topic in the last week or two i feel like my head is going to explode!
 
Yes , 1011 is too soft for much of anything ! Carburizing isn't the answer.
" knock off the top layer ??? "
Get an old file , anneal , grind , reharden - it's done often. An "old file" implies high carbon throughout rather than a case hardened as some newer ones are.
 
Files are made from 1095 high carbon or similar steel (at least the good ones are) and if treated correctly they will harden and hold an edge. However, a bar of 1084 steel from an internet supplier is not that expensive at all and would be much better to start with. (So I am told, my first knife was an old file). I don't think there is really much you can do to mild steel to make it capable of holding and edge. The stuff at the big box stores is just structural grade steel for making the legs for your forge.
 
thanks guys...mete, i was told nicholson files are made from 1095 since the 70's so that means a new one is good to use right?
 
No .Nicholsonfiles are now made in Mexico and Brazil. Who knows what they're made of .
 
ok how about a old Craftsman file idk how old found it in dads old tool box looks to have decent wear
 
Probably OK. Put it on a grinder and take a look at the sparks .Do a Goggle search for spark tests to get some idea of what you have.
 
ok i also just found a old nicholson and says made in usa so i am going to try that i think i forget what they are called but it is not a regular file its rectangle with no handle or tang and has 2 different cut types on each side
 
so i figured i would let you guys know what i did. i took a new nicholson Madde in mexico and also a older one made in usa figured it cant hurt to try and anneal both and see what happens. i found the new one as it became red hot it actully got soft enough to bend ( not too ad but deffinitly not flat any more. the older one showed no deformation at all got it red hot and letting them cool now. now my common sense would tell me ( my common sense aint always right tho so we will see) that since they reacted different they must be different type of steel right or wrong? so i think ill go with the old one and continue with that
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top