quality 52100???

[BIGBEAR]

Hi everyone. I recently read an article about using high grade 52100 for making knives. Is there really such a thing as high grade? And how do you tell if it is high grade or if the retailer is just feeding you a line? Thanks to all who reply.

 

[Kevin Davey]

I dont know what the definition is of 'high grade', but I buy virgin stock from a steel company that supplies 52100 for the bearing industry..Sullivan Syeel.

They do 3 compositions of 52100 with a wide range of hardenability....(plain)52100, Mod #1 and Mod #2....
The basic 52100 is recommended for thru hardening by oil in sections up to 1/2 an inch...Mod 1 and 2 are designed for thicker steels where the chemical composition (alloys) is altered slightly to improve thu hardening.

I stick with the plain 52100 and I obtain a certificate of Mill Test results with the steel so I know exactly what I am getting....
I also follow the steel manufacturers procedures for hardening.

here is a link...
http://www.52100steel.com/

I had to set up an account and I buy in bulk...(couple hundred pounds a time).....Its only supplied in round bars, but they can supply pretty much any size you want.

 

[mete]

Much of 52100 goes into bearing which requires very high quality ,"bearing quality" .

 

[Sweany]

You can buy stuff with the specs you will know what you are getting.
Here's one source, and he uses it himself to make his knives.

http://www.rakerknives.com/

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

Is anyone interested in 52100 sheet?

 

[mete]

Sheet ? They make such a thing ? What is it used for ?

 

[Ed Fowler]

In the future we hope to be able to work down some stock from our 5 1/2 inch 52100, in the meat time Rusty Sherrick has some round bars that worked into good knives, he has a web site for leather holsters and other goods he makes.

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

It has taken almost a year to get the 52100 sheet. My source has sheet in the following sizes:

0.051"
0.059"
0.067"
0.079"
0.091"
0.098"
0.106"
0.118"
0.122"
0.134"
0.157"
0.177"
0.197"
0.201"
0.213"
0.228"
0.287"

We ordered and received some .122 sheet. We cut coupons from the sheet and sent them to Metal Test to verify the content. Today the chemical analysis was faxed to us:

Carbon = 0.985
Chrom = 1.475
Manga = 0.272
Phosph = 0.100
Silicon = 0.218
Sulfur = 0.002

Several knifemakers will be testing the steel to verify is acceptable for making knives. I'll let you know the results.