Want to try my first knife, wondering if this will work..

O

offroadcmpr

Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
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So I have a friend that owns a custom iron work shop, so I decided to pick up some scrap steel from him to try to make a blade. This will be my first time trying. I am not that interested in looks, I just want to make one just to see how it is done.
But I have a couple of problems/questions. First off is that I am not sure of what kind of steel I have. He uses this steel to make gates, railings, and pretty much anything that people want him to make. I asked him what it was and he said it was mild carbon steel. Will this even work? The second thing is that I am not sure of how to heat treat it. I have access to a torch or if it comes to it I can use his forge. But I would try to not have to use that. I also have no way of telling how hot it actually is. Can I just get the steel red hot and then dump it in some water, or is it more complicated than that. I know that the circumstances are not ideal, but I am not that picky.

So basically what I want to know is if I heat up this random steel and then quench it in water, will it do anything? Will it work well enough? Or will it be pointless and I am better off not doing it? This knife is more of just for fun, it will not be a real user, except maybe while working in the yard or something if I like it.

Is this project even worth doing? It won't cost me anything as I already have access to all of the tools. And I will have time in the next few weeks to do it.
I read through some of the help sections in the stickies, but I could not find out these answers. I know on bladeforums we expect perfection and are never happy with a knife, but I am wondering if this will work at all.

Thanks
 
Mild carbon steel won't make much in the way of a serviceable knife. Not enough carbon to harden properly. It won't take a good edge, and it won't hold it. You can practice for fun to make a knife-shaped-object, but don't expect much in the way of performance. Maybe do some internet searches for super quench. It was developed to try and get *some* hardness out of mild carbon and may get you enough to somewhat hold an edge for chore work if you nail it.

My suggestion (and the suggestion of many before me) is to spend a few dollars on a piece of 1084 or 1080 and learn how to heat treat it correctly. The 108X series are really about the only steel that will heat treat by heating to just above non-magnetic and quenching in a fast oil or a brine solution. Because it's such a simple steel, it doesn't need much time at temperature to harden well. Just about anything else out there requires a bit more skill and temperature control (well...more control than skill) to harden correctly.

I suggest you go ahead and practice on that mild piece of steel if you like, or see if you can pick up some 1080 and work on it. Have fun no matter what you do. Remember this: every steel has a specific heat treating protocol. Some are similar to others, but each steel has a specific set of instructions that works ideally for it. Know your steel and know its heat treatment, and you have the first key to making a great knife.

--nathan
 
Sorry to say that the mild steel will not harden so it is usless as a knife making steel. If you just want to go thru the process for the experience you could make a letter opener or a throwing knife out of it.. At least then you can tell if you enjoy the work that it takes to make knives. If you enjoy making the letter opener and you still want to make knives you can buy some O1 tool steel from Jantz or Texas Knifemakers Supply.
 
Thanks for the replies. I may go through with it just to see how it works, and then if I feel like making a "real" knife I will buy some better steel and try that.

I was hoping that it would work out somewhat as a knife, but it sounds like it won't hold enough of an edge to be useful.
 
really, dont waste your time with the mild steel...been there done that....get some decent 01 or 1084 tool steel and be done with it...
 
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