knife making

[Moff8]

I am getting some work done on the house and the builder has discovered an steel beam that will need to be removed.

Would the steel in a I beam be any use for knife or axe making?

 

[Dougster]

Now I may be wrong, but it'll likely be mild steel. Absolutley no use for edge retention sadly.

Good as an anvil if you can keep a section.

 

[Moff8]

thank you

thats a great suggestion to use it for an anvil.

 

[Dr Onion]

Your question got me thinking and Googling!

Mild steel turned into knife

Now, ok so the chap didn't use an I beam but you'll have more than enough to make your anvil so why not use a chunk and see what kind of knife it produces?
Maybe even add a little of the old Carburization to create a hardened surface?

Nothing ventured and all that and he seems to have had some success!

You could even post it as a progress check/tutorial on here so we can laugh...I mean follow your handy work!

Cheers

Dr O

 

[Moff8]

thanks for the link - led me onto Damascus steel which was a very interesting read.

 

[Shinken]

I wouldnt worry about it to much mate, Cromwell do 01 tool steel that is quite cheap in any thickness you could want!

 

[Eric_Methven]

I wouldnt worry about it to much mate, Cromwell do 01 tool steel that is quite cheap in any thickness you could want!

Is there a UK supplier for Cromwell?

Eric

 

[Shinken]

Yes,

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/category?code=160202

 

[Eric_Methven]

Yes,

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/category?code=160202

Cheers mate.

Eric

 

[charlesian2000]

Hi Guys,

Just wandering through the threads and came across this.

Sure you can make a knife out of any metal, but it is wise to find out what type of metal it is first.

If it's a high carbon steel then the knife can be made easily. If the metal is a low carbon steel then it can be used as a knife body and an edge can be forge welded on or used as part of a pattern welded blade.



Regards Charles

 

[weaver]

I am getting some work done on the house and the builder has discovered an steel beam that will need to be removed.

Would the steel in a I beam be any use for knife or axe making?

I would be extremely overly cautious about a builder removing a steel beam from my house.

 

[Moff8]

it was fine - the steel beam wasn't structural according to the engineer. The builder was just as worried about removing it.

Their best guess is that ours was the show house and the design changed around the bay window but they still had the steelwork for the original design so they put it in. After they knocked a few bricks away it was pretty obvious that it wasn't carrying any weight at all.

 

[pibbleb]

There is a downloadable book in the download section of this site which is about black smithing.

I seem to remember it has a section about making an anvil out of a section of railway track, popular in third worlds. May be of use with your beam!

Pib

 

[cariboo]

I've made a few anvils from train rail. The advantage in making your own anvil, of course, is that you can make it to your specs. It took an afternoon to make a simple one with a torch and a grinder. I've one for adze blades and another for cup and fish tail slicks. For knives I have 2 metres upside down mounted in two wooden blocks. There is lots of flat surface.

Rail is heavy stuff, good steel and makes great anvils

As far as your beam is concerned check and see if it is mild steel with a spark test. Put your grinder to it. If the spark comes of and splits in three or four you can probably use it as an anvil. If it shoots singles it's mild.

http://www.caribooblades.com

 

[BOD]

As far as your beam is concerned check and see if it is mild steel with a spark test. Put your grinder to it. If the spark comes of and splits in three or four you can probably use it as an anvil. If it shoots singles it's mild.

The things you learn on this site! Great