What do all you guys do with your scrap/left over steel?

I had a thread a while back about scraps. I make worry stone key chains with scrap micarta. They are actually quite nice to rub with your thumb if it's something that soothes you.

I've made a few carving blades so far with scrap 1095, but I still need to handle them. I like your carver. What steel is that, and do you carve? I prefer a little bit thinner on the handle, and usually a wharncliffe profile, but that looks like it would make a good general carver where you don't want/need the tip digging into your work.

Maybe try making a hook knife. I'll try to post a pic of my forged spoon carver. :)

Edit- here's a pic of a hook knife by Paul Jones. He forges them from 1095 rod stock. Shouldn't take but a few inches of scrap bar stock to make something nice.

IMAG1381_zps780f731c.jpg
 
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Strigamort said:
I had a thread a while back about scraps. I make worry stone key chains with scrap micarta. They are actually quite nice to rub with your thumb if it's something that soothes you.

I've made a few carving blades so far with scrap 1095, but I still need to handle them. I like your carver. What steel is that, and do you carve? I prefer a little bit thinner on the handle, and usually a wharncliffe profile, but that looks like it would make a good general carver where you don't want/need the tip digging into your work.

Maybe try making a hook knife. I'll try to post a pic of my forged spoon carver. :)

Edit- here's a pic of a hook knife by Paul Jones. He forges them from 1095 rod stock. Shouldn't take but a few inches of scrap bar stock to make something nice.

IMAG1381_zps780f731c.jpg
Click to expand...

The one i made was made from a good quality sawzall blade, I am guessing it was L6. I don't have much experience in carving yet, but I'd like to add it to one of my main interests some day. I just absolutely love working with wood.
 
You didn't happen to follow that youtube video for the sawzall blade did you? I bought a few sawzall blades to make carvers, but decided to buy proper steel.

I use the old sawzall blades to check for non-magnetic temp in the forge now. :)
 
Strigamort said:
You didn't happen to follow that youtube video for the sawzall blade did you? I bought a few sawzall blades to make carvers, but decided to buy proper steel.

I use the old sawzall blades to check for non-magnetic temp in the forge now. :)
Click to expand...

I did follow that video, and subscribed to the guys channel, his username is John Heitz I believe he puts out some good videos
 
Right on. Yeah, I took my style of split dowel hidden tang mounting from his video.

I'm not convinced that the sawzall blade is the way to go, but he does good work. I like the way he uses a bowed piece of wood and string to draw out his curves.
 
I've actually been on a bit of a "recycling" kick. My last couple of knives were from pieces rescued from the scrap bin. Luckily, I was good about separating and labeling most of my scraps... and I think it has paid off thus far.

This one is the most recent "scrap" knife... and happens to be my first straight razor I made. Used a cutoff of 1/4" 1084 and a piece of copper that was too small for much else. Only things that were "new" were the piece of black hemp and the epoxy :) Finally getting my forge set up has definitely paid off... I can get a lot more out of my bars of steel.

Actually managed to trim up the beard without cutting myself with it, too (first time with a straight razor)! Oh, and some sucker even paid money for it :P

QCmIk26h.jpg
 
weebus said:
I've actually been on a bit of a "recycling" kick. My last couple of knives were from pieces rescued from the scrap bin. Luckily, I was good about separating and labeling most of my scraps... and I think it has paid off thus far.

This one is the most recent "scrap" knife... and happens to be my first straight razor I made. Used a cutoff of 1/4" 1084 and a piece of copper that was too small for much else. Only things that were "new" were the piece of black hemp and the epoxy :) Finally getting my forge set up has definitely paid off... I can get a lot more out of my bars of steel.

Actually managed to trim up the beard without cutting myself with it, too (first time with a straight razor)! Oh, and some sucker even paid money for it :P

QCmIk26h.jpg
Click to expand...

I've never even touched a straight razor before, probably due to my young age, but that is pretty cool. I think you just convinced me to try to make one :)
 
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GaryPogueCustomKnife said:
I've never even touched a straight razor before, probably due to my young age, but that is pretty cool. I think you just convinced me to try to make one :)
Click to expand...

You might try using and learning about straight razors a bit (lot) before jumping in and making them. A proper one is not as easy as it looks.
 
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