What to do for liner / frame /spring steel material?

T

tollund

Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
41
Hi guys. Just wondering what sort of steel you guys are using for springs / liners. I need to source some steel for making a framelock or lockback and I'm unsure of where to get it. Would the 154CM I bought for making the blade suffice, after I heat treat it (doing all the shaping and bending prior)?

I thought about using some spring steel from the suspension of an old car which is fairly easy to source, but unless I anneal it (which is a bit difficult for me as I'm sending all my blades away to get heat treated as I am only starting out making knifes) the suspension spring steel is going to be very difficult to work with and probably blunt my tools very quickly.

Any suggestions?
 
154CM will work fine for the spring, just have it tempered back down from full hardness to spring (not sure what temp, I know it tempers to 59-60 RC at 1000 degrees) and yes, do all the shaping / bending prior to HT. Your heat treater should know what to do. Liners for a frame / liner lock you can use titanium, no HT needed, it has inherent memory qualities that once bent, it will keep the shape quite well. eBay is my source to small, thin pieces of Ti, check the seller Shappiro Supply .
 
Actually I just checked that link and it seems they've done away with their eBay store. But yes, Alpha has a great selection.
 
I am getting into folders too and went to a hardware store and bought a cheap plumbers snake, its basically slightly larger than 1/8 thick spring tempered steel. For a lock back knife, it should be perfect. It was $ 5.50 for 30 feet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top