INFO: Trad Archery for Bowhunters



« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: A2 tool steel  (Read 710 times)

Offline Hillbilly81

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 27
A2 tool steel
« on: December 29, 2010, 08:59:00 PM »
Can anybody give me any thoughts/advice/info on A2 tool steel?  Is this steel good for making knives and how easy would the steel be to work (being a beginner)?  Thank you for any info.
Logged
"I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

Offline beetlebailey1977

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 576
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2010, 09:29:00 PM »
I have turned and milled A2 a lot...I have never made a knife with it.  It should make a great knife.  You do not quench it.  It is air hardened steel.  Thats why it readily work hardens when turning or milling and you get it hot.
Logged
Bowhunters of South Carolina Executive Council Member.


James V. Bailey II

Offline longbowman

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 957
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2010, 08:19:00 AM »
I just made a couple of knives from A-2.  Just make sure you get it up to heat before allowing it to air harden or you'll have a soft knife.  The problem I've seen working with tool steel is that you really need proper heat treating in controlled furnaces to get the hardness close to what you want.  I like working with good files better.
Logged

Offline bendbig

  • TGMM Member
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • ***
  • Posts: 300
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2010, 08:44:00 AM »
I have made a few from A-2 as we have an oven at work the edges have held up very well. Just work the steel slowly during any cutting/grinding processes while shaping your knife. I have learned to get your edge fairly sharp before heat treating as it will cut down on the sharpening time after the hardening process.
Logged
Glenn
TGMM Family of the Bow
PBS Associate


Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, Gen 27:3

Offline Lin Rhea

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 4541
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2010, 08:48:00 AM »
A2 is good steel. You have to think backwards to work it. Lin
Logged
"We dont rent pigs." Augustus McCrae
ABS Master Bladesmith
TGMM Family of the Bow
Dwyer Dauntless longbow 50 @ 28
Ben Pearson recurve 50 @ 28
Tall Tines Recurve 47@28
McCullough Griffin longbow 43@28

Offline Hillbilly81

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 27
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2010, 07:56:00 PM »
Thank you for all the feedback. I appreciate it.
Logged
"I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

Offline David Ricke

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 106
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2010, 04:45:00 PM »
I have made several knives out of A-2. This steel is a very good edge holder but will stain an rust as with most carbon steels. I believe you can quench in oil if you wish. I put it in front of a fan and then between two haevy bars of steel.  Good luck and happy new year.  Knifemaker
Logged

Offline Hillbilly81

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 27
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2011, 09:22:00 PM »
Anybody know where I might be able to get my hands on some of this A2 steel?  I appreciate it!
Logged
"I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

Offline beetlebailey1977

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 576
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2011, 10:16:00 PM »
I think McMaster Carr sells it in flat bar.
Logged
Bowhunters of South Carolina Executive Council Member.


James V. Bailey II

Offline OconeeDan

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 1685
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2011, 08:40:00 AM »
Lin, think backwards?  Please explain.
Thanks, Dan
Logged

Offline Lin Rhea

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 4541
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2011, 10:37:00 AM »
Dan,
     It's one my hillbilly ways of saying what I mean. A2 is, as you probably know, an air hardening steel as opposed to oil hardening. By far, most simple steels we knife makers forge and heat treat are oil hardening. To work 1084 (oil hardening steel), for instance, we would forge, normalize, and in most cases, edge harden in oil. With A2 you , more or less, anneal the whole blade, then heat the edge only and let air cool. Some place the annealed blade in oil, with only the cutting edge expose, heat the edge with a torch and let it air cool.
   It's the way I picture it in my mind. With 1084, the blade is out of the oil with the edge in and with A2 the blade is in the oil with the edge out. Think backwards. See? I told you it was hillbilly.   :)
Logged
"We dont rent pigs." Augustus McCrae
ABS Master Bladesmith
TGMM Family of the Bow
Dwyer Dauntless longbow 50 @ 28
Ben Pearson recurve 50 @ 28
Tall Tines Recurve 47@28
McCullough Griffin longbow 43@28

Offline guzzi2000

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 222
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2011, 11:09:00 AM »
Bark River uses it in their knives.
Logged
"Our arrows will blot out the sun." "Then we will fight in the shade."

Offline Roy Steele

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 1087
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2011, 01:17:00 PM »
I get of my alot of things Ineed from JANTZ.I've gotten A2 from them.They have just about any steel you need.
    WWW.KNIKEMAKING.COM
Logged
DEAD IS DEAD NO MATTER HOW FAST YOUR ARROW GETS THERE
 20 YEARS LEARNING 20 YEARS DOING  20 YEARS TEACHING
  CROOKETARROW

Offline OconeeDan

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 1685
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2011, 09:37:00 AM »
I see, the blind man said, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Thanks!  Dan
Logged

Offline TheBigRedArcher

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 255
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2011, 08:01:00 PM »
Southerntoolsteel.com has great prices on steel and they sell A2.

TBRA
Logged

Offline amar911

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 2860
Re: A2 tool steel
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2011, 10:44:00 PM »
The web address for Jantz supply is  www.knifemaking.com

Allan
Logged
TGMM Family of the Bow
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »

Users currently browsing this topic:

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
 

Contact Us | Trad Gang.com © | User Agreement

Copyright 2003 thru 2024 ~ Trad Gang.com ©