Steel question.

sharpstick

sharpstick

Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
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I found a place locally that sells spring steel. I bought 10 feet of 1095 and 10 feet of 5160 (3/16" X 2")and only paid $20.00 for it. The guy even cut it for me for free. My question is on the 5160 steel...Is it a decent quality steel to use for fixed blades. I have used 1095 and was pleased with the results, but I have never tried the 5160.

My other question is do you heat treat and temper the same at 1095 or is there a different method. The guy at the shop has various size scrap pieces of steel of various lengths lying around he said he would give me a good deal on. Most of the scraps are leftovers from making leaf springs. He has a huge pile of lengths from 6" to 2'.

Anyone that lives in the Texas Panhandle and would like the info on the place can send me an email and I will get back with you with the phone number and address of the place. Share the wealth!
 
5160 is an excellent steel for fixed blade knives. Very tough.
I'll let someone else fill you in on the heat treat.
 
Well Sharpstick, let me first say that IMHO 5160 is King of The Karbon steels. People expect me to say that. They both have their own little likes and dislikes but the way I HT 5160 for a knife is to bring it to critical, quench in Crisco. Do this 3 times. Stick it in the oven at 325 for two hours. Do this 3 times letting it cool an hour or two between cycles. The three temper cycles have questionable value to some and I do it because I get good results. I don't consider it an absolute necessity though. The triple quench has a tremendous value though when using Crisco.

Again IMHO, 5160 makes a better user knife although not by much. 1095 will gibe a much better temper line and in general is a prettier steel after finish.

You will do fine with either but I recommend you use every type of steel you can get your hands on to decide for yourself. Oh...one other thing. I feel 5160 forges easier than 1095 but again, not by much.
 
OH!!! Peter you are doing it again.:footinmou :footinmou
Only kidding I agree with Peter. 5160 makes one hell of a good knife.:D :D
 
Mr. Nap about the swords that you have made in 5160, did you triple quench them also. Thanks.
 
5160 is a very good steel, and one of the toughest out there. Easy to work with; forges easily and is pretty forgiving in the heat treat. Lots of makers are shying away from it recently though, due to some annoying cleanliness problems. Several knifemakers have put a lot of time into their 5160 blades; forging, grinding, heat treating, finish grinding, handrubbing, etc... Only to find dirty inclusions in their handrubbed finished blades. I think if you can find a source for very clean 5160, you have a winner. Otherwise, be advised about the cleanliness problems.
 
Mr. Nap about the swords that you have made in 5160, did you triple quench them also. Thanks.

Some of them. I do not quench the swords in Crisco. I just don't have enough even though I keep saying I'm going to get an end of the world supply. The triple quench works best using something like the Crisco. The first quench melts it. It also hardens glass hard on the first quench even though it shouldn't. The second quench heats the oil (a lot) the third quench seems to refine the grain.
 
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