wich metal to use?

R

roastelk

Joined
Sep 17, 2005
Messages
7
I've been thinking of trying my hand at knife making. I have few differnt metals readiy available to me, as i work in steel warehouse\machine shop with lots of scrap laying around. I'm wondering which ones are are more suitable for knife making.


NiCr super alloys (I need to kiss ass to get my hands on this stuff, $$$)
-718 age hardened
-725 age hadened
-825 anealed work hardenable


staninless steels
410 - martensetic
420 mod - martensetic, hardened and tempered ( stuffs a bitch to machine)
316L - austentic, sulution anealed, work hardenable


low alloy steels
9CR - martensitec steel, comes anealed. easily hardedned and tempered
4130, 4140, 4145 molybednum steels - hardenss varies from 22-36 rockwell
1018-1040 carbon steels
 
oh super alloys are about 35-40 hrc

most of the other metals on my list max out around between 22-36 rockwell depeneding on how theyve been treated. We mainly suply metal for oil field purposes where i work.
 
The 420 is barely suitable for blade steel, it's what alot of the $5 junk pocket knives are made from. I've never heard of 9CR steel, but from it's description it sounds like your best bet, can you get more information about it? The 4140 and 4145 could make a good tomahawk or axe I'd think, but not enough carbon for a knife. The rest would be ok for guards, bolsters, etc.
 
I agree with AwP about the 420 although I have used it to good effect on some guards. The NiCr stuff would do the same job but at 35-40 RHC they will be difficult to work. 316 is an excellent SS but is also difficult to work with as you must know, a real cutting tool and file killer and is very difficult to solder.
I see you are also in Canada, you might want to contact Jeff Diotte of Downie supplies and get a piece of steel that you know will make a good blade.
Just accross the border there is any amount of suppliers probably closer to you but I am not familiar with them.......yet. I have bought from Admiral steel but the shipping and exchange rate hurt.
Maybe some of our US friends can help?
Good luck fellow newbie.
Mike :)
 
9Cr chemicle comp %

C 0.15,
Si 0.25-1.0
MN 0.3 - 0.6.
P 0.025
Cr 8.0 10.0
Mo .09 -1.1

U.T.S. 95 KSI min
0.2% Proof Stress 75 KSI min
Elongation 18% min
Red of Area 35% min

it is suplied at 22hrc, but hardenable

martensitic steel containing 9% Chromium and 1% Molybdenum. is most commonly used in the hardened and tempered condition. When produced as bar stock it is manufactured to the analysis requirements of ASTM A200 (V01.01).
Though often referred to as a stainless steel the grade does not meet the accepted criteria to be considered a stainless steel.
Used extensively as tubulars, and structural and pressure containing members.
This alloy may be subject to accelerated local corrosion in environments containing free oxygen.
 
Roastelk

You are going to spend some good money on belts / tools etc and it may well take something between 20 and 100 hours of your time to turn out this knife. For less than $10 (Canadian $) you can get a knife sized piece of 440C or ATS34 that will machine easily - harden predictably by almost any maker/supplier with a kiln and turn out an excellent blade.

Don't put all that work into a blade that may not turn out to be serviceable. The steel price really is only a tiny part of what you put into it.

My 2 cents worth from Alberta. :D
 
roastelk said:
9Cr chemicle comp %

C 0.15,
Si 0.25-1.0
MN 0.3 - 0.6.
P 0.025
Cr 8.0 10.0
Mo .09 -1.1
Click to expand...

Sorry, with .15 carbon it won't be good. You should find another source for your blade material I guess.
 
Worth a lot more than 2 cents Rob. Just went to your site and you are clearly no beginner! Nice knives Sir!
Roastelk, a steel cannot claim to be stainless unless it contains at least 12-13% (as with most things, there is a discrepency about this too) chrome, not that this is a big issue in the knife making world unless you insist on a SS blade. There is a lot more to a good blade than the stainless properties. 420 is a relatively good SS and 316 is right there with the best (18% chrome) but it makes a crappy blade because it WAS NOT MADE with knife blades in mind!
There are other more important elements involved.
Do yourself the service and get a piece of true knife steel, stainless or not. :)
 
AwP said:
Sorry, with .15 carbon it won't be good. You should find another source for your blade material I guess.
Click to expand...


i need to read a bit on metalurgy, i can dig up all the info I want on the diferent metal I use at work, but I dont know what it all means. think i'll take robs advice, look for some ATS34, or 440c.



i have intentions of making a kingon batleth sword sometime down the road, I think the 825 NiCr would work good for an oramental sord. at 45% Ni , 20% Cr, 22% Fe the stuff polishes up like a mirror. and its not so hard you cant cut it.
 
I agree with rob 100% with all the belts you will need and all the time spent making the knife dont use unsuitable steel just because it's free. Good steel does not cost that much, start with something good and hopefully you will end up with something nice.


Ralph
 
I would leave all of those steels where they lay and proceed to purchase yourself some of the proven knife steels, such as 5160 -W1- 10 series steels. You don't want to make it harder than it is. The making of a knife is challenge
enough with "proper" steels. Best of luck to you, Fred
 
I would suggest O1 or 5160. They are easy to grind and heat treat with minimal equipment. Good luck.
Scott
 
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