Questions about ordering some steel:

Robert_Phelps

Robert_Phelps

Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
475
What is a good thickness of steel to order for most knife applications? (I'm working with 1095 right now) I was thinking 3/16" or 1/4".

What size do you find is the most cost effective way to order steel in? wider pieces like 3-4", or narrower? 36" or 72" length? (I'm looking at Admiral Steel's blade steel catalog, currently)

Thank you :)
 
Are you making paring knives, hunting knives, bowie knives or English Broadswords? :confused:

Thinking about most of my sales to makers who are turning out hunting / skinning knives, in order of popularity - 1/8, 5/32, 3/32 and the last one - the 3/32 is coming from behind quickly in the last few months. I haven't sold a piece of 3/16 or 1/4 in months.

But that's just trends - depends on what you want!

A hint for Admiral. Get your calculator out. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy 6 smaller pieces (bulk price kicks in) rather than one big sheet.

Rob!
 
You probably don't want 3/16" or 1/4" unless you're making large fixed blades like bowies or fighting knives. 3/32-.110" for thin folders, 1/8" for folders and thinner hunting/utility knives, and 5/32" for thicker hunters. These are just kind of general and it depends on the maker/application, some might disagree.
 
Well, I wanted to be able to make large fighters and utilities, and then some small basic utilities. I worked with 1/8 last time I ordered steel, and I noticed that sometimes when I'm down filing it to how I want the blade has gotten a little bit thinner than 1/8. So I thought 3/16 might be a good size to order a bit of, since I can always just file it down a little.
 
By far the cheapest way to buy 1095 is order the 18x48 sheets of it
that mcMaster sells. They come in all kinds of thicknesses. To save on
shipping, I pick up largish items like that myself, @ local GIANT McMaster
shipping center

The steel is legit, I made a few knifes out of it. Another plus: you can make
anything you want from a sheet like that, inlcuding 4x10 choppers.
 
If you're filing, I wouldn't go any larger than 1/8" x 1-1/2" otherwise it will be A LOT of work.
 
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