Stainless steel

[slong0928]

I am considering making a knife out of stainless in the near future, I need a type of stainless that is easy to file down. Does anyone have any suggestions?? I have thought about ordering some S30V but I am unsure. thanks in advance.
Spenser

 

[carbonsteel928]

AEB-L files like a carbon steel IMO. What type of knife are you making?

 

[M.FREEZE]

+1 for AEB-L

 

[james terrio]

I wish everybody would stop talking about AEB-L... I'm trying to keep it a secret

They're right, though... it's good steel and it's easy to work with.

If you choose a steel like S30V or CPM-154, make sure your vendor will surface grind it for you! You don't want to be taking mill scale off with hand tools.

 

[LARRYZ10]

Where do you buy AEB-L stainless steel?

 

[james terrio]

Where do you buy AEB-L stainless steel?

Alpha Knife Supply or New Jersey Steel Baron.

 

[slong0928]

so basically if I buy S30V I need it surface ground, that shouldn't be a problem for me,the shop I work for has about 4 or 5 of them.If I get S30V, after it is surface ground how hard is it to work with a file because that is pretty much the only thing I have to work with??
Spenser

 

[carbonsteel928]

So you're not looking stainless that is easy to file... you're looking for confirmation that you can file s30v, right? Anyhow, if you're willing to put in the time, even with a file you'll be ok depending on how large of a blade you're attempting.

 

[slong0928]

Its not that I am going to buy S30V I just wanted to know if it was going to be difficult to file down to where I need it for heat treat, the reason being is I can easily get a hold of s30v through the shop. When I was on earlier in the day I was having a hard time finding AEB-L which now that I know Aldo sells it(I should have checked that website first) I am probablly going to get the AEB-L instead. And to answer you earlier question it will probably be a used as a hunting knife.

 

[marthinus]

Can your shop get 12C27?

 

[logem]

S30V and S35VN are very tough (in my opinion) even in their annealed state, which is before heat treating. This is my experience from grinding them with high quality belts on a quality belt grinder. I couldn't imagine trying to tackle them with files, although I'm sure that many people have done so.

If you want to do this with stainless steel, then perhaps a 440c would be best, but hopefully others with more experience than myself will give you more guidance soon.

Mike L.