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local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:28 am
by edub20
wanting some 440c or 1095 spring steel to play around with knife making. is there anywhere around Jackson that sells in small quantities to public?

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:00 pm
by cwink
edub20 wrote:wanting some 440c or 1095 spring steel to play around with knife making. is there anywhere around Jackson that sells in small quantities to public?

If you want new try Oneal Steel.. If you want scrap let me know.. A buddy or mine is District Manager at Tri-Miss recycling.

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:20 pm
by torch
edub20 wrote:wanting some 440c or 1095 spring steel to play around with knife making. is there anywhere around Jackson that sells in small quantities to public?

Have you ever taken an old wrench and tried to make a knife? Works pretty well

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:28 pm
by edub20
torch wrote:
edub20 wrote:wanting some 440c or 1095 spring steel to play around with knife making. is there anywhere around Jackson that sells in small quantities to public?

Have you ever taken an old wrench and tried to make a knife? Works pretty well
Negative, but I watched my grandfather make a machete out of an old mower blade once :D

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:38 pm
by Buckwabit
Saw blades work very well

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 3:13 pm
by edub20
torch wrote:
edub20 wrote:wanting some 440c or 1095 spring steel to play around with knife making. is there anywhere around Jackson that sells in small quantities to public?

Have you ever taken an old wrench and tried to make a knife? Works pretty well
I just watched that Trollsky youtube video where he turned an old wrench into a knife... That's awesome.

Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:22 am
by edub20
Well I ended up just ordering about 36" of 01 tool steal to play with. I also found plans and built a jig for bevel filing and profiling using an old school mill file. Should be fun cutting out the first pattern using only an angle grinder and bench vice.


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Re: local source for steel?

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:43 pm
by Wildfowler
I hope you will document the individual steps with pictures and post them here so we can watch.

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:27 pm
by edub20
Wildfowler wrote:I hope you will document the individual steps with pictures and post them here so we can watch.
I'll take some this coming week(creating the knife blank) once I decide on my exact drop point pattern that I want to use.

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:17 am
by jdbuckshot
I want someone to make me a long spear point. something sharp on both sides and about 16" long.

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:58 am
by mfalkner
edub20,

It can be a lot of fun with good files and then successive grades of emery cloth. Remember once you get it filed/sanded sufficiently and change grit, also change direction so you know when you get the grit marks out. Then use a buffer with green chrome buffing rouge to polish. Careful with this step, that buffer wheel wants to grab a blade and throw it through your junk....

Once you get it buffed out, theres a place called Texas Knifemakers Supply that will heat treat to a desired hardness for you for like $15. They have a lot of cool stuff for handles etc. too.

Pics required...

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:08 am
by edub20
mfalkner wrote:edub20,

It can be a lot of fun with good files and then successive grades of emery cloth. Remember once you get it filed/sanded sufficiently and change grit, also change direction so you know when you get the grit marks out. Then use a buffer with green chrome buffing rouge to polish. Careful with this step, that buffer wheel wants to grab a blade and throw it through your junk....

Once you get it buffed out, theres a place called Texas Knifemakers Supply that will heat treat to a desired hardness for you for like $15. They have a lot of cool stuff for handles etc. too.

Pics required...
Thanks for the info, what you said is inline with what I've been reading on finishing the blade prior to hardening. I am one for trial and error and learning how to do it myself so I plan to harden and temper it myself :shock:

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:42 am
by jtdumallard
You've got one of the best knife makers (IMHO) in the U.S. in your back door. I'm sure Mr. Tatum wouldn't mind giving you some pointers along the way.

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 11:22 am
by teul2
Jim Tatum makes a fine blade.

Re: local source for steel? Knife Making

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:01 pm
by edub20
teul2 wrote:Jim Tatum makes a fine blade.
Never heard of him, where is he located?