Blank/steel advice

[tommy the cat]

Well after enjoying rescaling my lapplander I thought that I would like to 'have a go' at the complete knife. So I know little about the subject, read a little about heat treating but still fancy a go at maybe something pretty straight forward maybe a neck knife.
So I need to buy some steel and dont know where to start?
I'm not gonna get it wet so high carbon but apart from that.... where from and what do I buy?
Sorry if it's a bit vague but thats where I am at!
Any help as usual will be gratefully recieved.
dave

 

[jlfblacksmith]

Hi there
i am also on the ook out for good steel if our after high carbon go to a car bot and get yourself some old files and do them how green pete does them if you want new ground flat stock i suggest en45. Westyorksteel do it but its a little expensive just for offcuts. I am affraid thats al i can say n the subject but good luck any way, we will both need it, tr asking dave budd he knows his steels.
James

 

[Dave Budd]

The simplest steel to get hold of in flat stock is O1. Most of us get it from Cromwells
http://www.cromwell.co.uk/quicksearch?search=ground+flat+stock&x=0&y=0

 

[Shinken]

What Dave says

 

[tommy the cat]

Many thanks for that Dave

 

[Matt.S]

You can also get O1 from http://www.ground-flat-stock.co.uk/ but the shipping means you have to buy quite a bit to make it worth your while. Not bought from them before.

http://www.mkmetals.co.uk/ also have some GFS in their range, as well as many other metals, plastics etc. I have dealt with them once, and I must say that their customer service was a bit lacking. (Slow order processing, a bit rude on the phone.) I think it was part of the post-Christmas backlog though and am gong to buy some more off them as a last chance.

No connection to these, beyond spending some time looking for suplies for meself!

Oh, and I second the notion of old files. Excellent high plain carbon, around 1095 or W2. I have forged firesteels sucessfully from them (Well, they sparked but they're ugly as all get-out... ;-) ) Just make sure you use old ones, as in the past few decades many manufacturers have cut corners by case-hardening mild-steel blanks. Generally, avoid Chinese-made ones.

If you're forging, large springs are very good too; garage door springs are great for making firesteels apparently. I'm gong to contact some installers soon to see if I can have broken ones. Car coil and leaf springs too; they are usually a plain or alloy medium carbon steel.

 

[sc_barker]

if you want a blank to play with thats already shaped then Ive got some neck knives I'm working on, some are still blanks so you if want to grind your own bevels and heat treat then there perfect for you.

send me your address and ill post one out to you if you want.

http://www.ground-flat-stock.co.uk/ are great pleople to deal with, fast delivey and nice over the phone but if your only after small peices of O1 id recomend http://www.cromwell.co.uk/

 

[Shing]

I would recommend this company http://www.kellysearch.co.uk/gb-company-238763.html

No website but the contact info is in the link. They surface grind their steel to a better finish compared to the flat ground stock from other suppliers I've used so theres considerably less work to sand the steel surface to a smooth finish.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Another recommendation for Greenpete's video tutorials,
and the use of old files as "stock removal" blades and vehicle springs as starters for forge work. I have a play now and again and get some serviceable items at the end of it. The good thing about making your own (anything) is that you are not affraid of reworking it to modify or repair it if you fancy a change or damage it in some way.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[tommy the cat]

Many thanks all the gonna have a go more with a forge in the summer with an old file but wanted some stock to move thing along a bit.
Thanks Dave