New Maker with a few questions

J

jaysmith

Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
18
Long time lurker getting ready to start on my first knives. I have a few questions I was hoping you could help me out with. (I have read through the newbie threads)

I'll be making two knives to start with, a small user of, most likely of 1084, and a larger camp/chopper knife. These will be stock removal knives using a 2x42" craftsman grinder. The user will have a cocobolo scale handle. The camp knife will have a denim-micarta handle.

My questions are:

I'm not sure if I will heat-treat them myself, or send them out. If I send them out, where shall I send them? The only place I have found so far is texas knifemaker supply, but they only seem to do air-hardened steels.

What steel would you suggest for the camp knife? If I send the knives out, is there an air-hardened steel that would make a good camp knife.

If I do heat-treat them myself, I will most likely use a one brick forge for the user, and a charcoal forge for the larger camp knife. Good ideas? not?

Any other advice you could give would be great. I'll most likely get the steel from Admiral or Jantz, although I am open to suggestions.

Thanks for your help. I'll make sure to pics when I get going.

J
 
A2 is a good choice and is easy to grind and TKS does heat treat for A2 as does Peter HT in Meadville PA. Thats where I sent my A2 last week.
 
what kind of quenches to they offer? just curious, interrupted oil, plate, or just air.
 
I would worry trying to do A2 (great steel) with the tools you have for heat treat, you need to hold at a consistent temperature for quite a while. and decarb could be an issue. If you want to step up you could use 01 which is a tool steel much like A2 but lower temp ht and oil quench.

For now 1084 is a good steel to both and you can do your own HT

Most places use and air quench,

good luck
 
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