Recycled steel for a stock removal parang...

B

bodgermike

Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
9
Hi Guys,

I don't have a forge or the expertise to use it. I'm also a single cash strapped dad, so I can't justify the outlay of dozens of $$$ for steel. Any suggestions for something from which I might be able to cut a parang blade? I'm thinking angle grinder, for the cutting, about a foot long candung style blade (I like the skinny tang extension) Kind of a Ray Mears looking thing if you know what I mean. Thoughts??

Thanx
 
I'm assuming you're just starting to learn. How about a leaf spring from a car or truck. It will probably be pretty thick for your purposes though. Salvage yard? I don't know what a Parang is. Is it like a machete but shaped differently? Maybe rework an old (or new) machete?

I've been in your position. I wish I could be of more help.

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
If this is your first, and especially if you are using hand tools.

I suggest start with a smaller project.
Think paring knife, not parang

I also suggest to buy known steel, after all that work, wouldn't it be nice to know how to heat treat it?
 
Last edited:
The Count is right on, buy a piece of 1084 FG from Aldo

http://www.njsteelbaron.com

You will easily save the $22 plus shipping in abrasives and trial and error over buying unknown scrap steel

Seriously, unknown steel is asking for trouble, I have had leafsprings that are full of cracks, wierd alloys that don't heat treat worth a darn etc. Everyone seems to think saw blades are 15N20, that is not so, the blades I can buy as scrap at work I had one tested and it is only 47 points carbon (unusable for blades)

Start with something small and build your skills, read the stickies, especially "working with the three steel types" and any still working links in the "Newbies, good info here" stickies

-Page
 
Welcome to the Blade Forums shop talk area. I appreciate your filled out profile. Knowing you are in Canada makes the answers easier.

Making a parang without a forge would be quite a project, due to the curves of the blade and tang. I would suggest a simpler project.

As far as scrap steel goes, it is always a pig-in-a-poke and you don't know what it is or if it is any good. If there is a spring shop in your area, they will have steel in several sizes and types that will make good knives. They most likely will have 5160, 9260, and 1095. I n Nova Scotia, I don't know what luck you will have finding such a shop.

Now, if you have your heart set on making a parang, there are a couple other ways to do this.
Another smith can hammer out a basic profile, and send it to you. You can then do all the filing and sanding, and when done, send it back for HT. After he returns it hardened and tempered,you do the finish sanding and handle work. This will entail several sets of postage fees, however.

I appreciate that a cash strapped single dad has little spare money,but really needs a good project to keep his sanity sometimes.
I can offer this help - If you will make a template in wood , the exact size and shape you want the blade to be ( Just the blade and tang, no handle or guard), and send it to me, I'd be glad to forge the piece out , do the initial grind, HT the blade.....and send it back to you at no charge. All you would have in the project is your shipping of the wooden model.
You would then have to do the finish work on the blade and make the handle and any fittings. I'll throw a set of sanding sheets in the box ,so you will have the necessary supplies.
 
I agree with the other guys on avoiding scrap steel. There is just too many unknowns to contend with.

You may want to contact Bigblue17 as he lives in NS and may know smiths close to you. Blue's a good guy... new into forging but an old pro a making handles and sheaths.

On a side note and a bit off-topic...
It's good that users gain some insight on what we as makers have to do to make a decent knife. Purchasing good steel, equipment costs for cutting, grinding, drilling, forging, heat treating, leatherwork, etc... By the time you make your first knife, you have sunk a couple hundred dollars, just to get by. Then you've only succeeded in making your FIRST!! It may take countless more before you are confident/consistant enough to ever sell one to somebody. Farming out heat treatment costs money and developing the skills and equipment to do your own is even more expensive. I had buckets of broken blades before I even considered making "knives". I easily dropped $5000 into learning how to make knives in the first 6 months of starting up. It was a full year (as a full-time maker) before I started selling. I was in a strong enough finacial position to dedicate that kind of time and money into it. I can only imagine what all these great makers, who had to survive on their craft while learning go through. Only to get nickle and dimed in the end. There is no doubt in my mind that many makers don't break even on sales. That's why knifemaking is usually considered a "hobbie".

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Good luck to you, talk to Bigblue17. Post pics after you're done!

Rick
 
That is a very nice offer for you to make Mr Bladsmth

bladsmth said:
If there is a spring shop in your area, they will have steel in several sizes and types that will make good knives. They most likely will have 5160, 9260, and 1095.
Click to expand...

I have seen "spring shop" mentioned a couple of times. What kind of shop is it exactly? Auto springs? Something like a shop that re works heads for an engine?
 
Railrider1920 said:
That is a very nice offer for you to make Mr Bladsmth



I have seen "spring shop" mentioned a couple of times. What kind of shop is it exactly? Auto springs? Something like a shop that re works heads for an engine?
Click to expand...

They generally make and install replacement car and truck springs (after the ones you just found in the junkyard failed inspection because of fatigue and fractured leaves) they make a new set and install them for less than you might be able to find them from the dealer. My 69 Dodge Monaco and my 74 Plymouth Duster are both going to a spring shop sometime in the next year as they are both a little saggy in the back (The Duster is getting a shortened version of the spring package they put in the AAR Cudas)

-Page
 
Stacy, You the man as always.

Bodgermike,

If you do not want to take Stacy up on his offer, I have some .0625 or .085 15n20 that would make a pretty nice paring knife. It would have to be heat treated after shaping. I would be happy to normalize a couple of pieces and send them to you. I don't think shipping would be too much so I will cover that as well. Just another option.
 
Stacy that is an excellent offer and I will make it even easier, I am in Nova Scotia as well and have some O1 handy and a shop (sort of) set up. I know Im not the best maker on here but I have learned some things over the last couple of years and this might save him even more money. If he is set on using recycled, I have a piece of leaf spring I use when I'm pretending to forge :-) I'm always looking for someone to share the addiction with.
 
Thank you Sean. I didn't want to volunteer you with out checking with you first. That will make this a lot easier project for bodgermike.

For those who are confusing a parang with a paring knife. A parang is a sort of Khukri/Golok/Bolo/Machete shaped camp/survival knife. The blade shape varies to taste- from fairly straight and short sword shaped, to fat tipped, to curved.

Sean should easily be able to do this, but my offer stands if you wish. There are several other makers up your way who would most likely gladly help,too.

Do the project as a WIP on the forum here, posting your plans for each step, and getting feedback from the chaps here. Going slowly will avoid error and gain a better knife. This crowd is a very giving group and is glad to help and often will provide materials to a new maker or one who is cash strapped.
 
WOOPS, Did not read the post correctly at first:o. Missed the foot long part. Help is still there from many on the board. Good luck and let us know how it is going.
 
Wow,

I am really touched by the generosity offered by the members of this group, and Stacy, I'm overwhelmed by your offer, and those of the rest of the responders. I have been a wood carver for years, and have made a lot of my own carving tools, primarily crooked knives and other small blades. Mainly these were ground from old crosscut saws or power hacksaw blades. I have annealed and bent then heat treated one old file into a crooked knife blade, that I have yet to make a handle for... I admit that the scrounging is part of the fun, as is the care needed in what I call "grind and dip" to prevent overheating the steel. You're probably right that I need to take some intermediate steps before I tackle a heat treated big a$$ed jungle knife. I tend to like the "it ain't pretty but it works" feel of a parang, if you see what I mean. I think for bushwork, I'll stick with my axe for the time being and take a crack at a smaller knife making project. Here's a link with some good pics of parang candung http://www.ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?73479-Custom-Traditional-US-MADE-Parang-(with-pics!)
Again guys, thanks for the incredibly generous welcome to a nervous newbie.
 
Stacey.... your generosity amazes me. Nowehre have I found more good people than in the knife and knifemaker community. Taking care of someone like that, well it just doesn't happen anymore. Kudos to you for being so decent!
 
Stick around, you won't be nervous for long.

Get with Sean or some maker near you and get yourself started. A "not so pretty" parang is a good bushcraft project, and quite doable with help.

Any help I can give, please email me or ask here.
 
Yep, the offer still stands Mike, if you are in the area just let me know and we will see what we can do.
 
sunshadow said:
The Count is right on, buy a piece of 1084 FG from Aldo

http://www.njsteelbaron.com
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more. I am a new customer to Aldo. I live in MA, not too far away from him. Ordered some 1095 from him and had it not quite 48 hours later. Awesome prices and FAST! I won't look any further for steel suppliers. That guy rocks, his quality is awesome, and he has almost everything you might need (He's out of S 30 V, I think). Found him through the stickies, and lots of recommendations from the guys on here.
 
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