W2 round bar tool steel

You will have mail!

Just let me review your earlier posts. I am in Korea, but have access to APO AP. I also have a nice press, so the 1.25" is not a problem.

John
 
Don,

One last question before the order, from one who is mathematically challenged:

Have you calculated the prices so that all are essentially the same per pound? Or is one size a better deal per pound than the others? Thanks,

John
 
Thanks Rick!

Some have asked what size flat bar can be forged from this round stock. A good rule of thumb is: Round bar forge flat will be twice as wide as the dia. and twice as long (this of course depends on the thickness). Example would be 1''x11'' round will forge out to 1/4''x2''x22''. I did this with a 100 lb power hammer, so by hand your results may be different. I forged a 14'' bowie with a 5'' tang out of a 1''x6'' round the other day.

I still have 20 bars of the 1''x11'' left, a bunch of 7/8'' and a good bit of 1-1/4'' W2.

Thanks all,
 
Thanks Rick!

Some have asked what size flat bar can be forged from this round stock. A good rule of thumb is: Round bar forge flat will be twice as wide as the dia. and twice as long (this of course depends on the thickness). Example would be 1''x11'' round will forge out to 1/4''x2''x22''. I did this with a 100 lb power hammer, so by hand your results may be different. I forged a 14'' bowie with a 5'' tang out of a 1''x6'' round the other day.

I still have 20 bars of the 1''x11'' left, a bunch of 7/8'' and a good bit of 1-1/4'' W2.

Thanks all,

Whoa.......I just did the math. Assuming that I can get up to a 50% success ratio pretty quickly and with my slow part time knifemaking, 2-3 good knives a month, I figure i have at least 2 years worth of W2 now,.....and that is assuming that I don't use anything else.....lol. Looks like the remaining 1075 from Admiral is going to be the steel that I practice with to ensure that i can get at least 50% right:thumbup:
 
Joe, please practice with the 1075 and save the W2. I learned to forge blades by myself with lots of practice, I mangled up some good steel and not too many years ago. I now forge very close to finish shape and thickness and hate to see good steel go into the scrap pile :o
 
Yeah......but seeing as I really won't get cracking on the W2 and the 3/4 " round 5160 I bought from Ray Kirk until my press is up and running (except for those 4 bars of W2 you forged out for me) and that will be a while as I have decided to go with a concrete block one-car garage sized shop buidling in the back yard (there is a method to my madness...it will be big enough for the next owner to convert into a mother-in-law apartment or connect to the house for a nice sized addition). So I will sacrifice some the old 1075, Uncle Al's 3/8" 5160 and what little crappy leaf spring 5160 i have left until then. some of the 1075 will get saved so that i can screw it up learning how to make damascus down the road:D I may have undersestimated the amount of W2 I have. If you figure that each of those raound bars will give you 3 decent sized baldes each, then I have 162 pontential blades just in that, not counting the square stuff. Even at the 50% failure rate, if i can actually finish 25 good knives a year, I may have more like 4+ years worth of W2.......got any more?...lmao.
 
Hence the whole question about buying more, Don :D This must be magic steel. I am hand sanding a 9 inch coffin handle bowie for heat treating even as we speak. All of my 1075 and 5160 projects that I have attempted in the last month since i started up again have ended up in the trash. Plunge cut disasters mostly. But this thing, while not perfect, is looking GOOD!!!!! plunge cuts as even as someone with my experience can get them, blade and edge reasonably straight, taper good on both ends, ricasso realtively flat and parallel. I'm psyched!!!!!!:thumbup: Barring a major screw up, which will be tough because anything finer than 120 grit is being done by hand, no matter how long it takes, this puppy is getting some of the good wood!!!!!! Any votes? the candidates are a nice block of ironwood, ebony,african blackwood, amoboyna burl, very flamey maple or some really good looking English walnut. The fittings will either be nickel silver or rust blued 1018. Next W2 project is a hard use combat knife. It will probably get 1/4" 1018 for the guard and a lignum vitae handle....nuttin' tougher than that!!!! Give me MORE W2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
 
jdm61, sounds like you've been busy, I would go for the walnut on that piece. I guess you'll want more W2 soon :) Thanks!

Guys, this has really turned into a large thread :D I guess I'm in the W2 steel business for a while anyway. I just found and bought another big bunch. I still have 25 bars of 1'', plenty of 7/8'', 1-1/4'' and I'm about cought up on orders, have two going out Monday. So, just let me know if ya'll want any and I'll get it boxed up.

Thanks all,
 
ummmmm.....it may be a week or more before the next order, Don. I just did something crazy even by my standards. I just bought a beat all to hell Lime Kiln era Bill Moran Airman fighter on EvilBay:eek: :thumbup:
 
Don,

That round stock came in today. I have a decent supply of w-2 now, that I have purchased off this forum. I Bought it from other makers, like Don, that have made it available to the knife making community.
I like purchasing my steel from other makers as apposed to the big steel suppliers. The service is more personal and you are helping to support your
knife making brothers.

Thanks, Fred
 
Don,

That round stock came in today. I have a decent supply of w-2 now, that I have purchased off this forum. I Bought it from other makers, like Don, that have made it available to the knife making community.
I like purchasing my steel from other makers as apposed to the big steel suppliers. The service is more personal and you are helping to support your
knife making brothers.

Thanks, Fred

Absolutely. And the quality will usually be superior since the knifemakers are actually using the steel for their own work and not just selling trailer leaf springs as forging steel. :D I also bought some 3/4 inch 5160 round bar from Ray Kirk. Very nice stuff. Both the W2 and the 5160 have been a pleasant surprise. They both forge very easily and don't have all of the crud and inclusions that i found in off the street 5160 and the plate sheared 1075. I'm new at this and have even cracked 5160, but this W2 appears to be damn near idiot proof.....and as a idiot new smith, i speak from personal experience:) Well, idiot proof until i get over to the grinder!!!! :eek:
 
jdm61, sounds like you've been busy, I would go for the walnut on that piece. I guess you'll want more W2 soon :) Thanks!

Guys, this has really turned into a large thread :D I guess I'm in the W2 steel business for a while anyway. I just found and bought another big bunch. I still have 25 bars of 1'', plenty of 7/8'', 1-1/4'' and I'm about cought up on orders, have two going out Monday. So, just let me know if ya'll want any and I'll get it boxed up.

Thanks all,

Don. Those last squares that you sent me were HUGE..lol. I got the first package and thought there were too few pieces. The the second one came and I though you had sent me a box of boat batteries..:eek: i am going to have to buy some better blades (plural) for my little Harbor Freight bandsaw if i want to tackle those monsters :thumbup:
As for the wood, I just got 3 enormous bowl turning blanks 10-12 inches square by 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick.....2 of wild curly maple and one of figured English walnut. Also have some 2 x 2 x 24 turning sticks of blackwood, ebony, lignum vitae and amboyna, and a few smaller sticks of real live old growth Brazilian rosewood, tulipwood and olive wood:) i'm gonna have some fun with those. i may have to send you a couple of slices in the near future.:thumbup: I have found a couple of non-knife supplier sources if you guys are looking for nice wood AND sometimes, some LEGAL elephant ivory.
 
Thanks Fred and Joe, you guys are alright:thumbup: These forums are a good place to hang out.


Guys, I still have plenty of W2, so don't be afraid to order some :D
 
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