|
|
Register | All Photos | FAQ | Members List | Calendar | ShopStream (Radio/TV) | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
Heat Treating and Metallurgy Discussion of heat treatment and metallurgy in knife making. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
A new steel for the old guy
My knifemaking has so far been confined to using 1080, 5160, and 52100 steels. I recently aquired a considerable quantity of 3/8 4140 rod material. I want to try and use it for blades, but with only 40 points of carbon, I'm concerned about this steels hardenability and edge holding ability. I'm sure that there is someone out there who has tried this steel for knifemaking, and I'm looking for opinions as to the suitability. I'm sure that I'm going to try it, but before I invest a lot intime and effort, I just want some assurance that it's going to be worthwhile. Opinions please.
|
#2
|
|||
|
|||
4140 is chrome/moly gun barrel steel. It makes a decent axe, but no good for knives. Forging needs to be done above 1800?. It will reach around 60Rc at quench, but remember, hardness alone does not equal edge retention. There is just not enough carbon to make a good knife.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
This is a popular steel among blacksmith for making hammers, hot work tools, and the like. It is a great choice for making guards. Carbon content can be as low as 0.38 or as high as 0.43
It is one of the steels which responds well to carburizing. How experimental are you feeling? __________________ Perfection is a process, not a goal. Perfection is a journey, not a destination. Last edited by Thingmaker; 10-01-2011 at 12:11 AM. |
Tags |
52100, blade, forging, guards, knife, knifemaking, knives |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Metallurgy of Steel for Bladesmiths & Others who Heat Treat and Forge Steel | Julie Coffey | Ed Caffrey's Workshop | 11 | 06-20-2008 11:23 AM |
Question about honing steel or sharpening steel | Dan Metsker | The Newbies Arena | 1 | 12-09-2004 01:54 PM |
damascus steel, steel types | tim pion | The Newbies Arena | 13 | 12-24-2003 08:12 AM |
Steel Forge (Steel Supplier and More) | Raymond Richard | The Outpost | 10 | 05-24-2002 10:13 PM |
Steel Forge (Steel supplier and more) | Raymond Richard | The Supply Center | 0 | 05-20-2002 11:01 PM |