quick question

Myakka

Myakka

Joined
Feb 9, 2004
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Where can I order a piece of flat bar O1 steel, around 10" long and around 1 1/2" wide. I'm going to try to make my first knife :jerkit: I was going to use a bench grider to profile th blade and than use a file to shape the bevel. Can I heat it with a tourch? Where can I get leather and thread for sheath?

Sorry for such a newbie question.

Thanks Ron
 
http://www.toolanddie.com/ is a good place to get steel, though I think the minimum lengths are a bit longer then 10". You can HT with a torch, but only smaller blades. There's probably a Tandy or Leather Factory near you for the leather stuff but I can't say much about that since I make wooden sheaths.
 
Hey Ron - If the profiling kills you send it to me to cut out for you :)
Plan ahead for 2 knives because if you get an 18" long piece you will have enough for a large knife and a small one :) Also if your going to draw file it think about 5/32" stock.......instead of 3/16" because it will take some of the sweat out..................

but hell, I started out with an overall knife of 13" out of 3/16". Jump in head first friend~~:thumbup:
 
like AwP said, toolanddie.com... good price and great selection. they ship pretty quick too. the first time i bought steel i went ahead and bought a 36" bar, cuz i figured there's no way i was makin just one... the first knife i made was the exact same way. but i used 1/4" stock. :eek: profiling with a bench grinder is the easy part. i'd say go buy an inexpensive belt sander for about $40 instead of using the file. it speeds things up considerably.
Alex

Edited to add: *the profiling is easy if you already have it cut out. unless yo want to drill a ridiculous amount of holes and cut them out with a hacksaw, or if you have access to a bandsaw, it'd be worth it to think about brian's offer.
 
Myakka said:
Where can I order a piece of flat bar O1 steel, around 10" long and around 1 1/2" wide. I'm going to try to make my first knife :jerkit: I was going to use a bench grider to profile th blade and than use a file to shape the bevel. Can I heat it with a tourch? Where can I get leather and thread for sheath?

Sorry for such a newbie question.

Thanks Ron
Click to expand...


Have a look at www.admiralsteel.com. for O1 stock. Many industrial tool suppliers like JTS and Production tool supply sell O1 stock in 12" or 18" bars Enco might have it also. also. Brownells also has it if I remember correctly.

Tandy leather for your sheath making supplies.
Take a look at ebay also. there are some people selling leather there. Look for vegetable tanned or oak tanned leather.

A bench grinder will work fine to profile the blade. grinding the bevels with a file is less work than people think. Especially on simple carbon tool steels. I wouldn't want to do it on a 1/4" thick D2 12" bowie blade flat ground to the spine but a knife with a 4 or 5 inch blade made from 3/16" stock is a few hours work.

I flat grind all my blades on a belt grinder but I use a chainsaw file to cut the plunge cuts at the ricasso to make a nice clean transition.

Drew
 
Some suppliers will cut your steel to whatever length you want. There is no reason you should have to buy a 3' bar for an 8" knife. I cut to lenth, but the shipping from here is about $6 for something that size. (The steel would only be about $8) There's probably a supplier closer to you - or even local that will do the same.

Rob!
 
You can go to ebay and search for speedymetals and see what they have available. Or you can call them at 1-888-744-4140. They will quote you a price on whatever size or type of steel you want. Hope this helps.
 
Ron, you can get everything you need (and more) from Jantz supply 1-800-351-8900 they just came out with a new catalog and are now selling leather as well as everything else you may need for making knives. They are in Oklahoma, and have been very helpful. They will sell you small amounts of steel (whareas Admiral will want you to get a 20 foot bar I believe).

Another place you might consider is Sheffield supply which is another knifemaking supply place right in Florida. What I said for Jantz goes for them too. Very nice folks, pretty much one stop shopping though I'm not sure weather they stock leather. The problem I had finding leather when I was starting out was that most "leather places" want you to buy like a half a cow at a time, and I couldn't afford it. Thats why I suggested Jantz unless you have a leather shop near by that may be willing to sell you small pieces.

If you are going to use a torch to harden, I would suggest either a "weed burner" torch from Harbor Freight, or a Bernzomatic JHT7 (available at most hardware stores. It burns hotter than the average type that screws on to the bottle. You can also get MAPP gas which burns hotter than standard propane. The weed burner torch makes BIG FIRE (throws a flame about 8" in diamater by 3' long). If you build a little cave out of fire brick, make a little wire thingy from a coat hanger to hold your blade upright, you can put your blade in there, back up and blast away at it and bring it up to critical temp (non-magnetic) in a minute or two. It runs off a grill tank and usually runs about 20.00 from Harbor Frieght.
Good luck, have fun
PS: DON'T USE THE WEED BURNER INSIDE, LIKE IN YOUR BASEMENT WHERE ALL THAT CUMBUSXTABLE SAWDUST, ETC AND YOUR OIL TANK LIVE.......
 
Ron

I'm just down I-75 from you in Cape Coral. I've got a garbage bag full of Inswool/Kaowool I'll be glad to share if you want to make a forge to heat treat in. I can probably come up with a freon tank for the body, also, if you're interested. I've also got every kind of scrounged steel you can imagine (old files, old sawblades, leaf springs, coil springs, harrow teeth,etc.)along with some new 1065 in 1/4" thick stock, and some W1 drill rod in various sizes if you want some free stock to practice on.

Todd
 
Todd,
That is a great offer. I'm in Fort Myers once a month, maybe I look you up next time I'm down there. :D

Thanks, every one for all your ideas and suggestions. :) :thumbup:

Ron
 
Hey Ron,

Sorry I missed this tread's beginning. If you have a Harbor Freight store close enough go buy one of their 40 or 50 dollor wonders (the little 1 X 30 inch belt grinders). If not you can get it from them on line. Don't go filing those bevels. You'll kill yourself and not learn as much about grinding bevels. One thing about that 1 X 30 is it runs at one speed - SCREAM - so you'll be forced to learn the touch. Just be careful with it and keep your fingers away from the belt edge when the machine is running or the belt might meet bone, and in a blink. Plan to practice some grinding before profiling your first blade so that you can get a feel for it. You can get your belts from Harbor Freight but I rather suggest getting them from Pop's (I can give you the contact info). The HF belts, well, suck.

For 01 and other tool steels in small quantity I like Tool and Die. That is where I got the 01 for your big knife and your first WSK.

Anybody seeing this please don't ask. I am too busy but for you Ron I will be happy to HT your first blade - no charge. ...and I hope you know you can call me anytime, any day, for anything.

RL
 
rlinger said:
practice some grinding before profiling your first blade so that you can get a feel for it.
Click to expand...
Tip: use wood slats.

I recall reading that doing practice grinding on wood slats is a cheaper way to get in grinder time when starting out. This costs less than buying steel to trash as you work on grinding's basic hand-eye coordination.
 
Myakka:

There's a Leather Factory in west Tampa, just north of the airport. Their number is 888-5274, and talk to Chris, the manager. He'll hook you up with everything you need in that respect. Or you can contact me, leathercraft@hotmail.com, as I have a bunch of leather, etc., left over from my holster making.
 
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