O1 tool steel performance?

Z

ZeroTurnDude

Joined
Jun 8, 2014
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Pretty sure I'm posting this in the wrong forum if so sorry

Is O1 tool steel a good steel?

I'm going to be making a few knives out of O1 tool steel but before I do I want to make sure it a good steel to use.

Thanks

ZTD
 
Im using O1 on this one it machines/grinds good before heat treat, heat treats and tempers easy and is really tough after heat treat from what ive experienced. For us newbies I think its the best steel to use and prices are good. Hope this helps.
 
nwmetalbug said:
Im using O1 on this one it machines/grinds good before heat treat, heat treats and tempers easy and is really tough after heat treat from what ive experienced. For us newbies I think its the best steel to use and prices are good. Hope this helps.
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thanks man

Any tips on heat treating?

ZTD
 
Perhaps not the ideal beginners steel as some would have you believe, especially if you want to get the most out of it. if you can't heat treat it properly, then you are wasting extra money using it instead of say 1084. Otherwise, a VERY solid choice with a LONG record of great performance.
 
Its a good steel. Its probably the most common steel among the bushcraft community (probably thanks to Uncle Ray)

Its interesting seeing how many "bushcraft" blades use O1 while many "tactical/survival" blades lean towards 1095.
 
jdm61 said:
Perhaps not the ideal beginners steel as some would have you believe, especially if you want to get the most out of it. if you can't heat treat it properly, then you are wasting extra money using it instead of say 1084. Otherwise, a VERY solid choice with a LONG record of great performance.
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Yes...!
 
I made a forge ran it up to orange checked to make sure a magnet wouldnt attract soaked 10 minutes quenched in peanut oil pre heated to 150 then put in toaster oven at 400 degrees (35 minutes) twice to temper it. Also I used furnace cement on most of the blade spine for a differential treat so it wont be brittle. Went back to the grinder and now its tougher to grind by a fair margin. Dont take the edge down to far before heat treating or you will melt the edge.
 
jdm61 said:
Perhaps not the ideal beginners steel as some would have you believe, especially if you want to get the most out of it. if you can't heat treat it properly, then you are wasting extra money using it instead of say 1084. Otherwise, a VERY solid choice with a LONG record of great performance.
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When done right it's a pretty good steel. Compared to other non-stainless steels it's about in the middle or slightly above average.
 
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