Which stainless would you use...

[JustAFleshWound]

Hello everyone, I am a new knife maker who has so far only made fixed blades. I am looking into making a frame lock folder, but I have run into a wall. I do not know what type of stainless steel to use! Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SBuzek]

For the blade or the frame?
For the blade most all the knife steels or OK,for the frame I would use Ti.
Stan

 

[JustAFleshWound]

Oh, I should have clarified. The blade will be some type of tool steel, probably D2. I was talking about the frame. I can not easily work titanium with my current tools and it is #^%*^##* expensive.

 

[SBuzek]

You can use 416 SS>It will have to be heattreated and spring tempered.IMO Ti is not that hard to work and not very expensive in small quantities for frame locks.
Check out Alpha knife supply for small pieces.
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/ti-sheet.htm
Stan

 

[Kunklec]

Titanium is not hard to work if you use sharp tools. It has several advantages over steel, being lighter, corrosion proof, can be finished in many ways(bead blast, polished, anodized), does not need to be heat treated and keeps its shape and "springiness" if you use 6Al4v. you can always find a variety of sizes on fleebay at decent prices. When you consider that it doesn't need heat treating, the price as compared to stainless becomes appealing.
Chip Kunkle