What kind of steel should I use for knife making?

poetommy16

poetommy16

Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
181
I want to make a knife but ive never made one before and I cant figure out which to use theres so many choices. What should I use?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
1080 or 1084 is a good affordable easy to heat treat steel, so I would recommend that. 1095 is another popular choice but it has a more complicated heat treating process and I personally believe you need cryogenic treatment to get the most out of the steel. Another good choice would be O-1, I've never used it personally but a lot of other custom makers seem to like it. If you don't plan on heat treating yourself, it can't hurt to go with an affordable stainless steel like AEB-L or a semi stainless like D2. It all depends on your resources and how you want to go a out it. If you're going to heat treat the steel yourself, I would go with 1080, if you're going to send out for heat treating, then I would go with AEB-l, both steels are suitable for almost any type of blade.
I hope this helped.
-Will Stelter
 
W Stelter said:
1080 or 1084 is a good affordable easy to heat treat steel, so I would recommend that. 1095 is another popular choice but it has a more complicated heat treating process and I personally believe you need cryogenic treatment to get the most out of the steel. Another good choice would be O-1, I've never used it personally but a lot of other custom makers seem to like it. If you don't plan on heat treating yourself, it can't hurt to go with an affordable stainless steel like AEB-L or a semi stainless like D2. It all depends on your resources and how you want to go a out it. If you're going to heat treat the steel yourself, I would go with 1080, if you're going to send out for heat treating, then I would go with AEB-l, both steels are suitable for almost any type of blade.
I hope this helped.
-Will Stelter
Click to expand...
Thanks but how should I heat treat the 1080 steel? In a oven like ive seen or put it in a fire and quench it in cooking oil?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
Start with 1084 and after you have it all shaped and ground send it to someone to heat treat it for you. You will end up with a lot nicer product the. If you tossed it in a fire.
 
I would start by reading the stickies, especially the "How to make a knife" ( In the All The Good Info sticky), and "Heat Treatment" ones. The search engine in the stickies will help you find many threads on back yard HT and 1084 HT.

Filling out your profile might get you help with steel and HT .... nobody knows anything about you or where you live right now.
 
So im gonna get 1095 and ive seen how people hest treat it. In gonna put it in a charcoal fire and hold onto it until it reaches critical tempreture and dump it in vegtable oil thanks for the suggestions

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
1084 would be a lot easier and more forgiving for your current heat treat plan.
 
Check out Aldo. http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/shop/1084hc/

Heat it to just over non magnetic and quench in 130* canola oil. 1095 you have to soak at temp and will be hard to do without any experience and knowing the exact temp and being able to maintain it properly. You can't get much easier than 1084, and it's great steel.
 
I would go with 1084 with what you have to work with, 1095 is more difficult and would be a good choice on down the road when you get more experience. Make sure you get your oil warmed to around 130 degrees before you quench your blade, You don't want to quench in cold oil. Post pictures of your finished knife when you get it done, Good luck.
 
Craig Daniel said:
I would go with 1084 with what you have to work with, 1095 is more difficult and would be a good choice on down the road when you get more experience. Post pictures of you finished knife when you get it done, Good luck.
Click to expand...
It might be a while but ill post pics when its done thanks

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
If you want kinda stainless steel I suggest to look at D2. Its not very easy to work in annealed state but definitely possible with proper file and sand paper. And almost every city will have some commercial heat treater that will do D2.

1084 or 5160 is also very good steel for heat treat at your home since both are forgiving.
 
I am not a knife maker but im guessing you mean a fixed blade? If so i would recommend with some very cheap scrap metal so u get the hang of it and once you perfect ur method try a popular high carbon steel like 1095. Heard it was easy to machine and work with but have no idea since no personal experience.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I would start by reading the stickies, especially the "How to make a knife" ( In the All The Good Info sticky), and "Heat Treatment" ones. The search engine in the stickies will help you find many threads on back yard HT and 1084 HT.
Click to expand...

Listen to this guy! (and not for just this question)
~billyO
 
I am a new knife maker and I have used 1084 for half a dozen knives so far using a charcoal barbecue with air from a vacuum cleaner (used "backwards by taping tubing over the place where the air comes out), quenching in canola oil and tempting in a kitchen oven. A magnet is very useful for testing wether the blade is above 1500 degrees. This video was very helpful to me
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top