stock removal blades

R

renegade#2

Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
2
I was wondering what kind of metal to use for my first homemade knife? I thought for my first attempt I would use the stock removal method. What kind of metal would be best? I was thinking old lawn mower blades,old files,or perhaps a thin leaf spring from a light trailer. Any ideas would be helpful. I've never made a knife before, so I'm not expecting perfect results,just good enough to keep my interest up and try to do better with each new attempt. Thank You!!
 
Good cutlery steel of known composition isn't that expensive in most cases. You can't do a proper heat treat if you don't know what you are dealing with. If it's just for learning experience scrap is fine but if you want to make a real knife order a bar of good steel from one of the knifemaker supply houses or steel suppliers.

I do stock removal. I started out with 440C SS and still use it more than any other steel. It's pretty easy to grind and takes a great polish if you plan to polish the blade. It does need to be heat treated in a temperature controlled oven. Properly treated and tempered, it makes a very good blade.
 
biggest old thick sawzawll blades you can find seem to work pretty well for beginners if you dunk it in water after every 2 - 3 passes on the grinder that way you don't lose the temper in them. You can also use old files but will have to anneal them, ( heat them up red hot with a blowtorch and let them cool slowly overnight)
 
usually stock removal blades are made from high quality steel with known content. leaf speings and what not are o.k if you forge, but for stock removal i would just get new steel.
 
Nebulae said:
usually stock removal blades are made from high quality steel with known content. leaf speings and what not are o.k if you forge, but for stock removal i would just get new steel.
Click to expand...

????? So forged blades have inferior steel? Wow have i been doing it wrong or what.
 
o.k. I was unclear. leaf spring steel and other "old steel" has unknown content, but more importantly if you are going to forge, it does not matter what condition the steel is in. for example it may contain considerable stresses due to its previous employment, or it may not even be straight. If you are going to forge it you will even out the stress, straighten it, and essential make the old steel new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top