Steel question for the full time makers

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unky_gumbi

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Aug 28, 2009
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This is just out of curiosity, but when you order steel how much do you order at one time?

Being that I am just a hobbyist maker I only ever order what I need for a given project or projects. With the recent Postal strike up here and the fact that I use Canada Post for my shipping, it has got me thinking that I need to order more steel at one time so I always have some around to play with when the urge strikes me.
 
As much as I can afford. As you say, it's more efficient shipping-wise and it's nice to have plenty to play with in case a new design strikes your fancy. Steel has a very long shelf life :)

For a while I had a real mixed bag of steels on hand, as I wanted to work with several and learn for myself how they compare to each other. Now I generally stick to a couple favorite sizes in alloys that I'm familiar with and I know perform extremely well (CPM-154, O1 and CPM-3V pretty well covers the bases).

In the rare instances where a customer wants a particular "non-standard" alloy, I just order one bar. But usually if they ask for 440C or 1095, they don't mind CPM-154 or O1 instead. Then again sometimes they're willing to wait an extra week or whatever for me to order in their fave.
 
for those who buy a lot, but still high end PM/somewhat exotic, do you guys buy it at retail places like Texas knife makers, or Jantz, or do you usually buy it from places like also
 
Unk, I am not a full time maker but I usually buy 3 or 4 bars of O1 when I buy it, since it saves me the trouble of having to go back often. Also sometimes, I can get a deal on it. Right now I have about 6 feet of 1/8, 3 feet of 3/16 and 2 feet of 1/4. I also picked up 8 feet of 1084, 8 of 15n20 and 4 of 52100 when i was by Aldos last month. I have no real plans for it, it's just in case stuff hehe and to play.
 
I am not a full time knifemaker, but I buy a fair amount of steel. Generally between 100 and 1000 pounds, though certainly more and less than that on occasion.

No, I don't usually pay retail price on steel.

I have steel here that I've had for 10 -15 years. Steel does have a good long shelf life.
 
Many years back, Edmund Davidson decided that BG-42 was the perfect steel for his integrals. It was expensive, so he bought a pallet of it, about a ton, IIRC.. He said he would probably never need to buy steel again. I'll have to ask if it is gone yet.

I buy from 20 to 100 ppounds at a time usually.
 
One or two 6" wide by 6' long sticks at a time, last spring I bought two.
Thats a lot of folder blades and springs
Ken.
 
I can definitely see a big advantage to buying a whole sheet or pallet of one alloy from the same melt, far beyond bulk pricing. I imagine that would greatly reduce any worries about it all reacting to HT the same way.
 
I go to the Blade show just to buy steel and stag. I can get alot more steel by not paying postage. Aldo the NJ Steel Baron has all I need. I bought all his W2 round bar and about 100 lbs of 1095. That is enough to last me till next year.
 
I have no idea where I would put 100lbs+ of steel:eek:, I also have no idea where I would be able to get steel at wholesale pricing:o I am going to have to looking to this though.
 
12345678910 said:
Have you got any problems shipping and keeping them flat?
Or do they cut it up for shipping ?
Click to expand...
No problems at all.

My latest order was 2 half sheets.

5/32" CPM154 and CPM S35VN, 12" x 36"

They came just wrapped and sandwiched in cardboard, and all was well.

Larger orders have come in on a skid.
 
unky_gumbi said:
I have no idea where I would put 100lbs+ of steel:eek:, I also have no idea where I would be able to get steel at wholesale pricing:o I am going to have to looking to this though.
Click to expand...

might jsut be shocked at how little 100lbs looks when its leaning up on the wall

i order sheets and a bar or 2 now and then but any more if i can swing it i wait till i am olt aldos way or if i have ot pay shipping i order a pile at a time
 
unky_gumbi said:
I have no idea where I would put 100lbs+ of steel:eek:, I also have no idea where I would be able to get steel at wholesale pricing:o I am going to have to looking to this though.
Click to expand...

How about Fastenal or Metalsupermarkets? Not exactly wholesale but not too far away from you if you want some O1, A2 or D2.
 
Fellhoelter said:
No problems at all.

My latest order was 2 half sheets.

5/32" CPM154 and CPM S35VN, 12" x 36"

They came just wrapped and sandwiched in cardboard, and all was well.

Larger orders have come in on a skid.
Click to expand...

Do you contact a certian person at crucible for this?
 
I guess they are not really Crucible anymore, not really sure how it's all worked out...

I have been dealing with Scott Devanna directly, since before the restructuring.
 
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