Blade steel

[Alexander13]

Just learning how to make knives. Thank you to all of you who post build-a-longs and photos, it's very inspiring and extremely helpful.  I'm currently working on some file knives but would like to know a readily available, affordable good blade steel for forging, as I'm in the middle of constructing a propane forge? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Joel

[akaboomer]

Blade steel for forging is readily available and affordable.  Most any knife supply company has a variety. 1084 and 5160 are affordable and the heat treat is not real complex.  I would buy new known steel. Its a crap shoot with most salvage steel. It leaves you guessing on the heat treat and hoping the steel didn't get some damage from its former life.

If you plan on using salvage steel, do youself a favor and start with known new steel. It will save you time which is expensive because you will have to "buy" it out of other portions of your life.

Keep us posted on your progress and share with us.

Chris

[Alexander13]

Thank you for the great advice! I will definately share my work as I go forward.

Joel

[D.Ellis]

I highly recommend 1084. 5160 is good too, but requires a slightly more complicated heat treat procedure. You can do a great job of heat treating 1084 with nothing more than a forge or torch, and a container of canola oil.
Darcy  

[tomsm44]

I've been building stock removal knives for a couple years out of 1095 and 1084.  Both are fairly simple to heat treat and make great blades.  Finished my propane forge this past weekend.  Sooooo much easier to heat treat with than a torch.        Post a picture of your forge.  It may help show some other guys that are interested that they can do it cheaper than it seems at first glance.

Matt

[Alexander13]

Thanks for all the great advice.  I'll post pictures of my knives and forge very soon!

Joel