Is this steel good enough

[monkey boy]

At the yard were my mrs keeps the horse, they are nocking down one of the old barn, anyway they are chucking and cutting up the old frame where the steel is old and rusted, I don't know what type of steel it is but I am defo eyeing it up for knife making. What do you guys think? will it be good enough.
Here's a pic

 

[Stew]

Its probably mild steel mate so not any good for making into blades.

 

[Perrari]

+ 1 To this.

Its probably mild steel mate so not any good for making into blades.

 

[monkey boy]

Shoot I thought I was onto a winner there, how do tell what steel is what

 

[Stew]

Shoot I thought I was onto a winner there, how do tell what steel is what

Not easily.
In this case its a guess based on the use - hardenable tool steel isn't needed for the application its been put to so it would be an expensive waste to use better than mild steel for it.

 

[luckylee]

Would be ok to practice on tho bud, until you get some tool steel.

 

[Dave Budd]

personally I would put it aside and save it for those times when you need a bit of angle iron It is suprisingly useful stuff!

The only way to use it for blades is to laminate a good bit of tool steel into the middle of the angle once folded flat and welded together, so not really worth the bother...

 

[Paddytray]

Sorry to thread Jack but I have come across these bolts are they any good

Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk 2

 

[Stew]

Any good as what? They look like good bolts.

 

[Paddytray]

Ha ha sorry knife steel or would they be mild steel

Paddytray .;

 

[Dave Budd]

probably only goodas bolts, though you could turn it into a stamp/punch for leatherwork.

If in doubt about whether a bit of steel can hold an edge, simply heat a piece until non-magnetic (or orange to be on the hot side) and quench it in oil. If a file won't bite into it then it is good. If the file just bites, then try quenching in water. If a file bites easily then don't bother turning into a knife

 

[Paddytray]

Thanks guys sorry again for thread jacking

Paddytray .;

 

[santaman2000]

I suppose it depends on how good a 'smith you are. The Nepalese Kami use steel salveged from cut up ships and truck springs to make the Khukuri.

That said, I certainly couldn't do it!

 

[Paddytray]

Ha ha if I was anything other than a learner id not be asking

Paddytray .;