Newbie here

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bunghole

Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
206
Hi all,

I'm just finishing up my first knife and am having a blast working on it. I usually come if from the garage around 11PM and my wife laughs at the steel dust all over me. I'll try to post some pics once I get it done.

Here's my question: I was at Lowe's the other day...buying toys :) and I noticed that they had steel for sale for welding and they offered it in cold-rolled and hot-rolled, but there wasn't any additional information on what kind of steel it was. Does anyone know if it can be used for blades? I'm guessing not since I didn't find anything in a search here.

Thanks...I'm sure I'll be soaking up more info from you folks as I go along.
 
My first attempt was a Nicholson file that I annealed in a "beer fire" one night with friends. I basically let it heat to bright cherry and then just let it sit in the ashes overnight. After grinding and drilling and finishing to 180, I heated to non-magnetic and quenched in oil and then tempered in the oven at 450 for 45 minutes twice. I kind of put that process together using the internet and some assumptions about the type of steel I was dealing with (assumed 0-2), but who knows.

What would you guys suggest as a good steel for my next few knives? I have a cheapo 1x30" belt/disk sander, a small drill press, a bench grinder, a bandsaw, and a power jigsaw.

Thanks.
 
I like 0-1 :) Temper twice at 415 degrees....nice blade if you keep it oiled but it will rust.
 
Hey Bunghole,I'm pretty sure all they sell is mild steel for small garage projects and such,Hot Rolled (w/heavy grayish scale on it) or possibly cold rolled (clean finish w/no scale).One thing its good for is Practice !! Practice your grinds with out the worry of scrapping out a nice piece of tool steel - cheap too !Other guys have said they practice on paint mixing sticks too.
 
At Home Depot prices for mild steel, you're actually better off buying carbon steel and if you get a decent blade ground out of it, then you have something worth pursuing.

The paint stick/furring strip practice material is a great idea. Teaches you patience and control because if you hurry it's gone.......
 
Fitzo,thinking of Home Depot you're probably correct on the mild steel prices.O-1;1095;5160 and other good ones are all very affordable.
 
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