Steel supply

[imskippy]

I am still very very new to knife making and have been asked to make some knives by my new friend Bill Griffen of Zona Custom Bows to match the bows he builds. i would like to maybe find a good consistent source of steel so all the blades are the consistent. I would love a sawmill blade but also thought about stock steel or premade blanks. What are your thoughts? Thanks guys. Skippy

[KHALVERSON]

i buy mine from msc  direct
they have a website (www.mscdirect.com)
i use o-1 steel that is on page #1748
they have starrett brand or made in u.s.a
 also check the auction site exxy i have bought
some steel off there reasonably priced also
buzz rig blades
hope this helps

[OconeeDan]

I use pop's knife supply in Washington, GA.  they have a website.
This is only for bars of steel.
For premade knife blanks, there are dozens of sources for them, they are fine if you don't want to grind your own.
Dan

[tippit]

I get my high carbon bar stock from Kelly Cupples in Yakima, WA.

[Jeremy]

I've gotten most of mine from Jantz, some from Texas Knife, but just bought a few years supply of 1/4" 5160 from McMaster-Carr... well a couple decades worth of steel at my current pace!   :rolleyes:

[imskippy]

I've been looking and need to figure on one type of steel so I can perfect my work and be consistent in quality. The current knives I've done have not been heat treated but appeared to pass the brass rod test. Next to work on the quench and temper process.

[imskippy]

I just found a 24" saw blade on #bay this would be good right?

[KHALVERSON]

both blades i looked at on xbay  1@ 24 1 @26 DIA
WOULD MAKE NICE KNIVES and if you can get one for 20.00 and 20.00 shipping you can make a lot of knives . many more than if you buy 40.00 worth of tool steel

[imskippy]

I'm trying to convince the guy to end the auction early. he's only 30 minutes from my work so no shipping.

[uhdet]

Try Admiral Steel. They have great prices and a HUGE selection of knife making steel.

[Leftieshot]

Try flatground.com   They will be getting my next steel order.

[Ian johnson]

I would stay away from Admiral steel, bad quality

[imskippy]

I hitthe jack pot!! An old farmer my dad knows was cleaning out the barn and came acrossed a few treasures that he let me have. I'll get pics up later. Skippy

[imskippy]

How about 2 of these measuring 29 1/2" and 5/32" thick! How many knives you think I'll get out of them?
 
 

[uhdet]

Admiral steel is just fine. The saws will get you about 20 blades if you take them to someone with a cnc plasma cutter. You may want to use a water jet company. Good luck and the steel will work.

[Ray Hammond]

Trent, I am not an expert, but after reading some stuff on knife boards by some who appear to know what they are saying, Admiral does take some shortcuts with things like shearing steel off of plate rather than bandsawing, thus rounding edges, their steel content apparently varies from batch to batch significantly enough for many to mention it, and while that may not affect someone building knives for fun its enough to make me think twice.

I want anything I build for someone to last longer than they do- that means 50 bucks instead of 25 for a stick of steel might be the quality difference in edge-holding capability, strength, etc and I don't think when you are talking 5 dollars per blade difference its worth skimping.

Again, for hobby knife making, who's gonna care? If it breaks, you build another one and nobody cares.