So I am finally getting close to actually making knives, I have been gathering and building my NWG over the past 12 months and I have it all built except the wiring of the motor and switch.
I am planning out my next USA Knife Makers Supply order for grinding belts and I am on the fence about which steel to use.
Originally I had planned to use O1 and 154cm and send it out for professional heat treating, that is still an option however cost of HT then becomes an issue and would result in me making less knives due to the extra costs involved.
So I got into research mode and found through this and other forums that maybe I need to use a simple carbon steel and heat treat it myself. That search lead me to two steels. 1084 and 5160.
I read many posts here, especially by well seasoned makers, that it is advisable to pick a steel and work with it and perfect my skills with one steel before moving onto others.
From my research 1084 makes great small to midsize knives, alternatively 5160 makes great large and tough knives.
I plan to make knives from small stock 1" and 1/8" thick; midsize stock 1.5" stock 3/16"; and large stock 2" - 2.5" wide 1/4" stock.
I am confident that 1084 will do the small and midsize knives with ease. My concern is knives on the larger end of the spectrum. I REALLY love larger knives, 7" to 12" blades are the main reason for building my grinder.
5160 will certainly make choppers, that is a given. However I haven't read much about it's use in smaller knives. Also I haven't found anything thinner than 1/4" thick.
Since I can only find 1/4" thick 5160 that has me leaning heavily towards 1084 for my one steel.
So all that said, my main question is 1084 and large blades ( 2" wide blade up to 12"+ long ), will they work well together or am I headed for disaster?
Thanks in advance all!
Geoffrey
I am planning out my next USA Knife Makers Supply order for grinding belts and I am on the fence about which steel to use.
Originally I had planned to use O1 and 154cm and send it out for professional heat treating, that is still an option however cost of HT then becomes an issue and would result in me making less knives due to the extra costs involved.
So I got into research mode and found through this and other forums that maybe I need to use a simple carbon steel and heat treat it myself. That search lead me to two steels. 1084 and 5160.
I read many posts here, especially by well seasoned makers, that it is advisable to pick a steel and work with it and perfect my skills with one steel before moving onto others.
From my research 1084 makes great small to midsize knives, alternatively 5160 makes great large and tough knives.
I plan to make knives from small stock 1" and 1/8" thick; midsize stock 1.5" stock 3/16"; and large stock 2" - 2.5" wide 1/4" stock.
I am confident that 1084 will do the small and midsize knives with ease. My concern is knives on the larger end of the spectrum. I REALLY love larger knives, 7" to 12" blades are the main reason for building my grinder.
5160 will certainly make choppers, that is a given. However I haven't read much about it's use in smaller knives. Also I haven't found anything thinner than 1/4" thick.
Since I can only find 1/4" thick 5160 that has me leaning heavily towards 1084 for my one steel.
So all that said, my main question is 1084 and large blades ( 2" wide blade up to 12"+ long ), will they work well together or am I headed for disaster?
Thanks in advance all!
Geoffrey