Where to get square bar stock?

[Leon Husock]

Aldo used to stock 1080 bar stock but as far as I can tell he doesn't anymore. McMaster sells W1 in round drill rod, but try to get a 1x1 square bar from them and it's $160 for 3'. But I still see people making things with 1080 square bar and similar stuff, and I assume they're not just stacking up flat bar and forge welding (though I suppose I could be wrong).

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Check blacksmith suppliers. Also look for similar alloys like 1070/1075/1084

Another alternative is to stack up three to six pieces of .375" X1.5" ( or whatever Aldo has instock) and forge weld them together. Then draw out to whatever size square you need.