Local source for knife steel

[th3w01f]

My daughter really wants to try to make her own knife before school starts up again. This will be with hand tools and a grinder, so super steels are out.

Anyone know a local sources for a chunk of 1080 - 1095 or something relatively easy to work with? It's going to be a general purpose camp knife between 4 - 7".

If you have another idea for steel, please let me know.

[th3w01f]

Thinking of some 1095 from Admiral Steel if I can't find anything local. http://www.admiralsteel.com/shop/

[Frac]

Looking to do a similar project with my girl this summer. We wouldn't mind starting with a kit. Looking for a hatchet and/or a knife. I'll let you know what we find.

[Wulf202]

Go to a u pull it scrap yard and buy truck leaf springs

[StagLefty]

What about https://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php ?

[thedave1164]

Old circular saw blade, not thin kerf

[BPTactical]

Go to a u pull it scrap yard and buy truck leaf springs

I'll go one better- I have some old leaf springs here - you come by and they are yours.
A 6 pack of Red Stripe is all it will cost you.

[encorehunter]

Used leaf springs may have fractures in them, causing problems. Are you looking for barstock where you can file or grind a blade, or are you going to be forging? The 10xxs are fairly easy to work with, and so is the 5160 spring steel. How mucheck and what thickness/width are you looking for?

[th3w01f]

BP, I've got some red stripe for you if you can wait a week. :)

We're planning on grinding and hardening, not forging. This will be our first try so probably going to make a 4 - 8" camp knife of some sort. Either way, it will be a good learning experience for both of us.

Anyone know of a reasonably priced belt grinder that can be used for hobby knife making?

[ray1970]

Something from Harbor Freight maybe?

[newracer]

Used lawnmower blade.


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[Great-Kazoo]

Old flat file.

[Mtneer]

Another DIY option: http://www.thompsonsknives.com/#Items

[spqrzilla]

When I was a kid, we made knives from old files as suggested above. I'd suggest rummaging through some garage sales, or thrift store tool bins. Some times at flea markets, someone will have a big bin of old tools.