started with a big bar of 5/16" O1 Starrett Tool Steel. i ran over it real quick with 220 grit to knock off rust and then wiped down with denatured alcohol to give a clean surface for marking out. i drew up my blade designs on poster paper, put packing tape on front and back and then cut them out to use as templates. i then traced around them with sharpie to get my rough layout in nested blanks on the steel.