Thread: Steel for blades?

Hello,

I would like to make my own razor and need some help for steel. I have the chance to work as an operator for a Iron company but I dont know wich steel to get to make a blade. Here's a link of some of the metal I can get:

http://www.russelmetals.com/pdf/engl...eel_Plates.pdf

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

cheers
Dominic

And theres some steel bars and Stainless in catalogue too...

http://www.russelmetals.com/english/...cts/index.html

I will let the MUCH, MUCH more experienced members point you in the exact direction, but start looking at 1084, 1085, 0-1.

Here are a couple of links Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies Enco is a good source of precision ground O1 tool steel.

Here is another source http://goo.gl/Gz7h6

Charlie

How do you plan to heat treat it? If you have a heat treat oven I would use 0-1. You can find the heat treat sequence for O-1 in several places online. If your going to heat treat in a forge or with a torch with anti scale compound I personally would use 1095 and quench in veggie oil or brine. A torch would not be ideal but doable.

Ray

I went through the listed pdf's. The only cutlery grade steel in their catalog is 420 stainless. All the rest are mostly fabricating or structural steels. It will work for a razor but requires precise temperature controls over time. There is a ramp and hold time and then a ramp up to critical temperature. Plus you should control the atmosphere. I guess what I'm saying is that it's fairly specialized and not for a beginner without HT tooling. If you can find a HT shop that will do it then it's good enough. Some of the knife making supply houses (Jantz, the above link to the NJ site, etc.) will have predictable selections of steel for blades at fair prices. ENCO's good too.

Thanks for all replies!!!

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

I went through the listed pdf's. The only cutlery grade steel in their catalog is 420 stainless. All the rest are mostly fabricating or structural steels. It will work for a razor but requires precise temperature controls over time. There is a ramp and hold time and then a ramp up to critical temperature. Plus you should control the atmosphere. I guess what I'm saying is that it's fairly specialized and not for a beginner without HT tooling. If you can find a HT shop that will do it then it's good enough. Some of the knife making supply houses (Jantz, the above link to the NJ site, etc.) will have predictable selections of steel for blades at fair prices. ENCO's good too.

I'm a beginner so I'll go simple and will buy 01 steel. I have access to HT oven and found a source of carbon steel here near where I live. Thanks for looking at Pdf Mike and point me a direction!!

cheers
Dominic

Good deal. Where did you decide to get your O-1?

Janz knifemakers supply is less that US20 for a 1/4x1x18. I'm putting in an order today.

O1, good choice. Well known steel, no complex HT, reasonably priced, easy to work with and holds an edge. It is unlikely you will be unhappy with the metal. Take your time so you are equally pleased with your fabrication. I've made little mistakes on the 2 I am making right now, but I just remove a little more metal and bam back to happy.

Perfection isn't when there is nothing more to add, its when there is nothing more to remove. Saw that on a knife forum, thought it sounded cool.

Jeff