mild steel?

[Peter_t]

iv found a bit of mild steel flat in the garage it looks the perfect size for a small knife but will mild steel hold an edge? iv read that it has a low carbon content but when you quench the steel in oil will it increse the carbon content of the steel?
iv have read up on knife makeing at http://www.greenpete.co.uk/?page_id=29
do you think mild steel will work?

thanks
pete

 

[elma]

mild steel is not very good as a knife steel as its carbon content is low and it wont harden to a degree that would make it useful, however I wouldnt wast it, use it for a trial run to grind a blank of the size and shape that you desire you could then keep it as a template for other knife projects

 

[demographic]

It hasn't got enough carbon in it to be hardenable but its maybe worth trying out your shaping skills on it before you possibly ruin a good bit of steel.
Then after you have had a practice you will know what shape you want and how to achieve it.

 

[FGYT]

wont harden as said

the only thing you could do is case harden it which mens increasing the carbon content of the surface
basically tiy would have to make the knife shape and virtually sharpen the edge to a finish

then pack it in carbon dust and hold at a high temp so the carbon leeches into the surface which then can be hardened as normal quench and temper
however espesially in a DIY rig you will get a very thin hard layer of indeterminate carbon content that will probably be removed by a few sharpenings etc
an as a bit og 01 carbon steel from cromwells is cheap as chips not worth the hassle

ATB

Duncan

 

[Peter_t]

i mite use it to practice on but im sure we must have some old files kicking around i can use on the the real thing.

pete