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Post by Anankai on Aug 14, 2014 2:03:21 GMT
Okay here it comes! In the building next to my workplace there's a scrap dealer who picks up all kind of metal stuff, like metal sheets, pipes, bars, wires and other metal junk... So I went to see him and asks if he had some steel bars. He didn't have carbon steel but he had a nice piece of type 304 stainless steel bar(at least that's what he said it was...) So I wanted to know if this is usable for making a knife blade out of it? Type Analysis of Stainless Type 304 Carbon: 0.08% max. Silicon: 1.00% max. Manganese: 2.00% max. Chromium: 18.00 - 20.00% Phosphorus: 0.045% max. Nickel: 8.00 - 10.50% Sulfur: 0.030% max. Pic of the stainless bar:  |
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Aug 14, 2014 4:20:03 GMT
304 is 18/8. It's low carbon. 0.08% carbon (or 0.15% carbon, as some specs give) is similar to mild steel. Won't harden through quenching - you'll get a soft blade. It's used for table knives (i.e., dinner knives) and other flatware, but edge retention is not an issue for such cutlery, since it isn't sharp.
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Post by Anankai on Aug 14, 2014 10:36:37 GMT
Ah then it shouldn't be used to make a knife blade. Is there some tests I can do to verify if it's really 304 stainless, like hardness tests and such? I tested with a magnet and it's slightly magnetic...
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Post by Beholden on Aug 14, 2014 14:22:37 GMT
304 / 18/8 is cooking steel, not cutting steel. ;-) It's also what DeLoreans were made of, for what it's worth... You can spark test it if you have a grinder, but you still need to know what to look for in order for that to mean anything to you... You need to have at least .5% carbon in order to have anything like a functional knife blade.
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Aug 14, 2014 17:59:05 GMT
If you are just starting you don't want to use stainless any ways it take a special heat treating. 304 isn't a blade making steel so don't even try it, just be a waste of time. Order some good 1075/1080 from Adrimal Steel it isn't very exspensive. You can order from them on line.
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Post by Beholden on Aug 14, 2014 22:15:27 GMT
If you do choose to use a stainless steel, there are a several vendors you can send your blades to for heat treat. Texas Knifemaker's Supply is about 10 minutes from my office, so I use them...
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Post by Anankai on Aug 15, 2014 0:15:59 GMT
Thank you very much everybody for your input! I guess I'll have to find something else to do with this piece of steel... I'll have a look at Admiral Steel but I expect shipping charges will cost as much as the steel piece itself... That's why I'm not very incline to order online...
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Aug 15, 2014 13:15:16 GMT
Marine grade. Good stuff for guards, spacers or bolsters etc. I make Athame (ceremonial only) blades and some hilt furniture from 316 which is very similar. Can be tricky machining. I've got some 316 round bar which is near impossible to lathe.
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Post by Beholden on Aug 15, 2014 14:19:09 GMT
If you're just starting out, I'd call TKS and ask about their remnants... They generally have packs of 4 - 6 pieces of under-12" steel that they sell at a discount, and can be fit into a flat-rate shipping box.
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Post by Anankai on Aug 15, 2014 23:57:22 GMT
Thanks Brendan for your ideas! Making guards out of it sounds like a nice option!
I know some metal supply places in the area where I live. I got a 3/8 X 1 1/2 X 12 inch brass bar for 15 bucks a couple of weeks ago. I'll go back and ask if they have some high carbon steel bars that would be suitable for a knife blade...
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Post by Fireatank on May 2, 2022 14:58:56 GMT
Thank you very much everybody for your input! Suggest you save it for bolstes. Luck. |
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larason2
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Post by larason2 on Jan 12, 2024 3:54:24 GMT
Even if it's hardenable, stainless steel is often hard to work with. The heat treat is really picky, and most home forges can't get it up to heat. As mentioned, carbon steel is a much easier choice for a knife, particularly a first knife.
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