Author Topic: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN  (Read 2188 times)

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Offline inthebeech

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KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« on: October 04, 2012, 04:25:52 AM »
Back when I started out forging knives, I would try to cut cost anywhere I could and frankly was not making enough to justify the freight on six or ten foot sections of flat stock.  So for those who have an interest in grinding or forging their own blade;
 
Nicholson and Simmonds (Black Diamond) files - W1 tool steel; very good but very tempermental (prone to warpage durring the quench so start out with thick and short blades to minimize.)  Quenching in oil will minimize but give incomplete transformation (which will actually be a good thing).
 
Harrow tines ; 1084 steel; one of the best, quench in water.
 
lawnmower blades; L6 tool steel - great for large blades, very shock resistant, quench in oil.
 
Rear leaf springs from Ford trucks - 5160 alloy steel - my favorite, one of the best, oil quench.
 
Have fun.
 
 

Offline mechanic

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2012, 04:45:05 AM »
Some the new coil springs work well too...I have several from late model Chevys that are remarkably good steel...both for knives and tools such as tongs, punch's etc.
 
Ben
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2012, 04:03:31 PM »
High speed hacksaw blades have worked well for us on several projects.  ;)
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline Ranger99

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2012, 05:17:15 PM »
thanks for the heads up itb


i'll have to go with you on the leaf springs
i'm not lucky with the files- can't keep the
warpage out, and bad rust resistance.
newer mower blades ( the easy-to-find ones)
don't seem to even last good on grass. maybe
poor taiwan heat treatment, or poor steel?
my best luck has been plain ol' 0-1.
i've got some big bearing races to try someday
a guy gave me and said you could make a
blade that would hold a fantastic edge, but
would rust if you looked at it just right.
someday. . . .
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Offline FPH

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2012, 06:08:55 PM »
Railroad spikes and farrier files?  I have no idea......just asking.

Offline blind ear

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2012, 02:44:15 AM »
Railroad spikes are the BIG square nils used to hold the rail down on the crosstie. Farrier files are the "rasps" used to trim a horses hoof when shoeing the horse.

OT: How do   you set up a drill press to drill a hole in hardened material like a flat truck spring. Anything special that you do? Have a friend machinist that said you can do it with an old hand turn drill press because it turns so slow. ear
Oath Keepers: start local
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“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
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An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2012, 03:01:37 AM »
Wouldn't you aneal the spring before drilling and working it to save tool wear ? Or at least the area to be drilled ?
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline FPH

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2012, 04:08:56 AM »
Railroad spikes are the BIG square nils used to hold the rail down on the crosstie. Farrier files are the "rasps" used to trim a horses hoof when shoeing the horse.

OT: How do   you set up a drill press to drill a hole in hardened material like a flat truck spring. Anything special that you do? Have a friend machinist that said you can do it with an old hand turn drill press because it turns so slow. ear

I am aware or what they are.  Will they make a good blade?

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2012, 04:29:44 AM »
FWIW I talked to a knife maker at the nations gun show last weekend. His take on pick up steel was you never really know what you get. He said springs can be of several different metals as can other material. All ok to pratice but if you make a knife to sell it is better to know what is in it so you can be honest with the buyer. Also you bknow what to expect as you work.
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline blind ear

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2012, 07:27:37 AM »
Railroad spikes are the BIG square nils used to hold the rail down on the crosstie. Farrier files are the "rasps" used to trim a horses hoof when shoeing the horse.

OT: How do   you set up a drill press to drill a hole in hardened material like a flat truck spring. Anything special that you do? Have a friend machinist that said you can do it with an old hand turn drill press because it turns so slow. ear

I am aware or what they are.  Will they make a good blade?
-
SorryFPH, misunderstood. Spikes are tough but made to maleiable, bend and not break, can make a knife but might be hard to temper to take a good edge I think. Farrier rasps are basically just another file with a different type of cutting tooth. I am not postitve just have done a lot of reading and a little playing. ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline Ranger99

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2012, 08:00:32 AM »
any material would have to be annealed
before any drilling. (ideally- i guess you
could do it anyway-i wouldn't want to)
you're going to harden and temper it
anyway.
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Offline mechanic

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2012, 07:17:35 AM »
Railroad spikes...there are two types....one is marked HC, high carbon, but its still not enough for a good knife.
 
I usually heat material in my forge and punch a hole on the anvil.
 
Ben
Molon Labe, (King Leonidas of the Spartan Army)

Offline FPH

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2012, 07:35:02 AM »
I remember a knife made with farrier files.......one of the trade mark clues were the serrations left for the thumb. They actually advertized them as being made with old files.

Offline tacklebury

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2012, 03:58:16 PM »
Files are great if annealed properly at the hasp end that most people use to attach to the handle.  My buddy spent about 150 bucks on a custom hollow ground one and the guy didn't anneal it up high enough and on our 3rd survival outing, his snapped in two.   :o   He was one T'd off dude.  The only part that should really be re-hardened is the blade edge and small amount of the top if you are making a knife with a false edge on the rear.
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline blind ear

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2012, 06:16:22 PM »
Railroad spikes...there are two types....one is marked HC, high carbon, but its still not enough for a good knife.
 
I usually heat material in my forge and punch a hole on the anvil.
 
Ben
-
Ben, punchin makes lots of sense. Can carry on with a process without cooling and reheating.
-
Most makers that I have read recommend removing the file teeth before starting to work the blade with hammer and heat. ear
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline Cornbelt

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Re: KNIFE MAKING STEELS AROUND TOWN
« Reply #15 on: October 08, 2012, 03:21:04 PM »
  I've seen leaf springs drilled by hand that produced a real pretty curl. The set up had a jamb nut that forced the bit into the spring. The crank was by hand.