Online Steel

K

KeithH

Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
96
Ive never used the internet for buying or selling before and am wondering if buying steel over the internet is a good idea. Perhaps a little bit of 5160 would be nice.

Are there any other spring steels that would be better?

Is there a friendly company that ships easily or is in Canada?

And Is this a good idea?

Thanks
 
Some selection here - www.knifemaker.ca

Of the hundreds of transactions I've done on-line for knifemaking supplies, only two have gone bad - both of them from well respected (at the time) members of blade forums.

So in answer to your question, I'd say the savings and selection you get on line are more than worth the (very) rare bad experience.

Rob!
 
Almost forgot - you can get 5160 from most automotive spring shops too.

Rob!
 
I'll vouch for Rob! on this one. I'd much rather get steel from him than ordering from the States (less hassle). If you don't want to buy through the mail, you might consider looking for some O1 at an industrial supplier like Acklands grainger, century vallen, metal supermarkets, etc. but you can probably get a better price with Rob! - the mark-ups on small volumes at the industrial places are retarded.

Good luck,

Nathan
 
Thanks, Ill have o try that, I looked around town for 5160 and only really found honkin' 5/8" rusty springs. great!
 
And one more thing, I've heard great things about O1- is it as good for a starting hobbyist as 5160?
 
9260 is similar to 5160 ( it is nearly identical to S4) and makes a superb blade - especially for a chopper. It replaces the chromium used in 5160 with a good bit more silicon (up to 2%).It was one of Bill Moran's prefer ed steels. It is a spring steel and is often what you have when you use a car spring as "mystery" steel. It can be purchased from spring shops and steel suppliers.
It heat treats easily and has a high hardenability.
Stacy
 
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