Cutting knive stock

[traditional beagle]

I have a 48" saw blade with without replaceable blade tips. I have heard these old blades make good knife blades. If so , does anyone know a good way to cut out stock from these blades and how do you cut a knife blank after that. Thanks. Kirby

[sticshooter]

It's hard steel to cut ya gotta soften it up some. I heat it and let it cool slow. I use a cutoff wheel. How thick is it?<><

[d. ward]

As Frank said you will have to heat it up hot and let it cool first.I draw an outline of the blade on the steel.Then I use a dremel tool and cutting wheel to cut out the blade.bd

[chiger]

Hey Kirby,

Stic is right, should be pretty hard stuff.  A right angle grinder with a metal cutting wheel is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to cut it up to sizes you can handle.  

After you do as Frank said and soften it, the grinder with and thinner (1/16" or so) cutting wheel will make short work of cutting out the blade blank.  

Those things have been made out of a lot of different steels over the years, but they all have one thing in common.  They have to be heat treatable to around 40-50 Rc.  That means it should be at least a 1060 steel, but it could be a high grade carbon/alloy spring steel too.

If you're concerned about the grade, do a spark test.  All you have to have is a grinder that turns 10,000 rpm.  Basically any right angle grinder.  And if you do an internet search you find info on how to do it and probably even some pics for comparison.  

But like Frank said, should be pretty hard and it may make a great knife.  But you'll need to cut it up and soften it first or it'll work you to death grinding and finishing it.  ;~)

[traditional beagle]

OK, I'll try and see if I can get anything done. Once you heat it and cut the shape out do you have to do anything to re-temper the steel?

[loyd]

i cut mine out with a tortch, if you dont have one the grinder is the way to go, you will have to heat treat it when you are done with it. loyd

[chiger]

Hey beagle,

Once you've anneal the steel to soften it, it can't be tempered until it's re heat treated.  sticshooter I think and it sounds like Loyd too uses saw blade material a lot.  I'll bet stic or someone has got a great heat treat thread posted around here somewhere.

Might do a thread search.  If not, well be glad to post something to get you started.  It's something you can do in the back yard with some pretty minimal equipment.

[traditional beagle]

OK, thanks a lot guys. I've got the general idea. I think its up to me now to dig into it. I've got access to torches and grinders so I think its time to make the sparks fly. Thanks for all the advice.