Steel Thicknesses

C

Citori

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Sep 28, 2002
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A client of mine throws away huge quantites of D2 steel flat stock. I took a few measurements from some scraps in their bin today and most of it seems too thick for knife making, it is around 0.2"-0.25".

Since I don't make knives but would like to try, could I expect to make anything useful out of steel this thick? Would it be good to practice on?

It is all hardened but I have yet another client who has a heat treating oven I could possibly use on to anneal. Should I bother or would you recommend just buying some stock specifically cut for knife making? Now that I've learned something about steels from this site it pains me to see all this go to waste.
 
.2 to .25 - hmmmmm. That is way too thick. I think the best thing you can do is go ahead anneal it and ship it to me.

Yes that would be best.

Steve

BTW - I'm coming out with a new line of D2 Bowie knives - attractively priced.
 
Lots of folks use 1/4" thick steel for their blades Citori. I'd grab up a bunch of the free d2 and get it annealed and start grinding. You can't beat a free or cheap steel source like that.
 
Citori,
You could make a decent amount of pocket change with those scraps and use it to pay for all the other knifemaking expenses that are eventually going to pop up. I think eBay is calling you. :D
Bob
 
Naaah, .2 is way toooooooo thick :p
Here in Italy I have a business which disposes in an ecological and safe way of such scrap for no charge, you can just send them scrap to me :D :D :D

Jokes apart .2 seems to me exactly the thickness one would like for bigger knives like bowies or many fighters.
Just anneal it and start grinding :)
 
Investigate shipping costs and post a note on what you will sell for. I'd buy some!
Lynn
 
1/4 inch will do great for bigger or even smaller knives.The great thing about this besided the free part is that you have lots of room for error when learning to grind.If you make a mistake just grind it flat again or take soome off one side and even it back up and grind some more,Heck you can take half the thickness off and still have a good blade.Definately grab what they will let you have.It also makes good plattens and different things around the shop if nothing else,Heck you could use it for guatd and bolster material if you wanted and save some money there also,Free material is the best to learn on as you are not worried about what you messed up and what it is costing you so you are not nervous to begin with when grinding.
D2 makes a outstanding blade also.
Bruce
 
Excellent, thanks for all the comments. I'll see what I can get hold of next time I pay them a visit.

After I posted my comment I found some thinner stuff, 36"x 2"x 0.125" and took some home. I'll see what I can do with it.

If I accumulate enough of this I'll put up a post and if anyone is interested I'll try to distribute it. Maybe trade it for tips on how to grind straight or something, half the stuff I do looks wavy.
 
If you are learning to grind start on the thicker stuff until you get a feel for it. That was the best tip I heard when I was trying to learn to grind, I still have problems hollow grinding with a 10" wheel when I get down to 1/8" stock. I think it was Tom Mayo who suggested to start with thicker stock. I just used up all of my 1/4" stock, a couple of weeks ago, and it was the best thing I did for my grinding skills. I do notice it is noticebly harder to grind thinner stock. I have to be much more careful.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
They make waterproofing membranes for landfills. It is a big thin sheet of polymer and when it gets to the end of their line it is wound around a mandrel. The mandrel has spacers inside that grab the sheet, which are made of D2 steel. When they wear a little they have to be replaced or they won't grab the sheet, which as I understand it is done every 24 hours or so. The spacers are 36"x2" wide and about 0.2" thick but they have a hole drilled in the center every 10" of so. The fittings that actually grab the sheet are narrower and thicker(36"x1 5/16"x0.25") and have the same holes.

They also use steel guide bars somewhere along their process, but I think they are made of 01.
 
If they also use O1 then see if you can grab some of that also,as it is a great steel to use also...Boy it looks like you have landed on a gold mine of steel for a long time.
Bruce
 
i would also be interested in some anealed D2 for a good price. if you do end up doing this, please drop me a line.

thanks!
 
Joe Szilaski has been forging D2 for years and making some great cutting blades. You do not have to grind your way,all the way,to the blade.
 
O-1 and D-2 have got to be a couple of my favourite steels. You seriously need to find out how to set up an import export business. That way you'll make heaps of new friends ...

As a side issue on the matter of thickness, many "serious" knives around the world are of hefty thicknesses. Many original kukri's (not the light Cold Steel ones) start at 3/8inch or 0.375inch thick. Some swords have a thickness of 1/2inch at the hilt ! Remember than whether you're forgin or stock removing, you need a thicker stock thickness to start with so you can happily make a few mistakes without ending up with a fillet knife ...

Ciao.
 
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