What Steel?

[ErikD]

I want to try grinding some knives. I have done some handle jobs on kits, and stock, but want to go to the next step. I have only a Delta 1" belt sander. What is a good steel to start with that I can grind fairly easily? I am thinking that this is mostly a learning experience, so some carbon steel would be cheapest. is O1 good to start, annealed, precision ground? I doubt I will make anything decent enough with my first few feet of steel that I would want to HT, probably just grind the shape and handles for practice.

 

[L6steel]

Erik, I wouldn't go to the expense of buying precision ground steel for fixed blades, it's just not necessary. Click on this link and check out Admiral's 1095, it's pretty cheap plus they sell alot of other lower cost steels like L6. I haven't worked their 1095 but I have used their L6 and it grinds real easy.
http://www.admiralsteel.com/admiralsteel/order/weborder.cgi?CODE=PHOLD&PRODUCT=HR1095&ACTION=DISPLAY

 

[rlinger]

I wouldn't dispute what L6 says. However, I started with O1. I like O1 alot and will make more knives using it. It is easy to work with and makes a real edge holder when heat treated right and you don't need fancy equipment to treat it. I would suggest that you heat treat your first ones no matter what you may think of them. You will need to learn that too and you might as well get started. That way when you hit that really nice grind on knife number whatever you won't have to heat treat it with no experience.

Roger

 

[Mike Hull]

Another good way to learn, is to get 50-100', of lathing strips, 11/2"X1/4". You can treat it like steel, lay out a pattern, profile, and grind the bevels. It will only use one, or two belts,the strips don't cost much, and by the time you finish all that wood, you will have a pretty good idea of how to grind a real blade.JMO.

 

[ErikD]

Roger, I was planning on sending any decent knife out to have it heat treated. I don't really have the right equipment, or space to do it myself, so no worries about getting it right.

I had thought of doing it in an oil fired boiler. I should get plenty hot in there, but would I need to do the qouench outside? Could I use water, or is oil necessary?


Thanks for the advice so far. So basically any of the cheaper high carbon steels should be fine to practice? I was planning on tagging it on an order from Admiral I will be making soon for some structural shaped steel for a welding project. Thanks again.

 

[L6steel]

Erik, Roger, I didn't mean 01 wasn't a good steel to start out with, just meant that precision ground steel is pretty expensive for fixed blades and not necessary.