Thread: Steel sources

Hello,

Where are you guys getting your steel's lately? I'm looking for some source of high carbon steel. Some easy steel to work with like O1. Basic question is where should I look?

Any places I could look at home? I tried a old file once for a trial run.

Thanks
Nathaniel.

Here a link with all the information you need!
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

Just google the manufacturer of O1 and go to their site, they should also have heat treat procedures for the steel.

Most of the knife places online will have exactly what you are looking for. Unfortunately there aren't any straight razor making/forging sites with exactly the sizes and materials we need, but you make do. You can use an old file, but with it being tempered already it's probably going to be a pain to grind that thing into a shape you want/need. Plus, sometimes you never know what steel you're getting unless it's stamped on it, and some cheap files made in china, taiwan, india use cheap steel that won't hold an edge as sharp as a razor needs, so tread lightly there. Just my $.02 though.

I use metal supermarkets when im in a pinch. It costs a little more, but they ship right to my door next day.
Im not sure they will ship to the east coast, but im sure your options are limited. Its worth a shot.
1x4" x1"x 36" 01 will cost about $55... if you cut it up right you will have enough steel for at least 8 blanks.

Eric

If you have trouble pm me and Ill help ship you a length...

You can use old files. They're cheap and easy enough to come by.
You'll have to anneal them of course if you want to work them.
O1 is available in plenty of places. Your best bet depending on your locality is to find a knifemakers forum that has members from the same place. They usually can tell you where to buy steel.

Enco and MSC supply are good sources for O1 precision ground.

Charlie

Just make sure they are cold rolled and annealed if possible. Hot rolled is not as soft.
Precision ground means you will be sure to have a uniform thickness on the spine.

Just my $.02

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Just make sure they are cold rolled and annealed if possible. Hot rolled is not as soft.
Precision ground means you will be sure to have a uniform thickness on the spine.

Just my $.02

Of course, if you're sticking it in fire and start hammering, it won't make a bit of difference whether it was hot rolled or cold rolled or precision ground

If you're doing pure stock removal, it being annealed would be the major selling point for me. If it is not precision ground, that would be easily corrected with a belt sander. The exact thickness does nt really matter for razors. I think that is mostly important if you're using it to make tools that need to be an exact thickness, such as certain wrenches etc.

I just picked up a piece of Starrett O1 from MSC. It was convenient for me to get while at work. I thought I would try out the Starrett stock and see if it is any better or different than the generic (imported?) steel used last time. With some grades it makes a difference.

Another easy thing to do is call your local steel suppliers and find out who has O1 on the shelf. That is where I got my last batch. It was about $14 cheaper! But, so would the generic stuff from MSC.

Jeff