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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Steve Nuckels on January 28, 2009, 08:55:00 PM

Title: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Steve Nuckels on January 28, 2009, 08:55:00 PM

I know this very vague information/question, but I was in a Lowe's store and checked out the steel.  I have no idea what kind it might be!  Can any one tell me what type they carry, and would it be acceptable for making a knife?

Steve

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: theunluckyhunter on January 28, 2009, 08:56:00 PM

nooooooooooo any of that will just be mild steel. it will be good for making templates but that's about it, maybe bolsters...

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Steve Nuckels on January 28, 2009, 09:01:00 PM

Thanks bro!

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: theunluckyhunter on January 28, 2009, 09:17:00 PM

ha! i just gave myself an idea. as long as it doesnt tarnish easily then i might be making some bolsters pretty quick without having to order steel or nickel

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Holm-Made on January 29, 2009, 12:05:00 AM

It will rust and tarnish quickly.  Chad

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: LONGBOWKID on January 29, 2009, 12:17:00 AM

Oooh...shot down! lol

Good luck with it!

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: madness522 on January 29, 2009, 06:37:00 AM

Man that stuff is great for practicing.  I have been using it to practicing the grind.  Had a cousin try to make a knife with it and all he got was a pretty butter knife.  Wouldn't harden worth a dime.

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Tim Fishell on January 29, 2009, 08:27:00 AM

Most of the stuff hard ware stores carry is mild cold rolled or hot rolled steel.  These types of steels will not harden through.  You can case or flame harden them but even then they dont get that hard and it is very hard to make it consistant.

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: robtattoo on January 29, 2009, 09:03:00 AM

I've always been of the opinion that if you want to 'practice' (Hell, it's all practice to me!  :biglaugh: ) you may as well use good carbon steel to begin with. That way, if you get a really good grind you can practice your heat/quench. If that goes well you can practice your temper. If all's good so far, practice handling. Then you can practice your leatherwork.

You'd be pigged if you did a really nice, top quality, even & level grind in mild steel & then couldn't do any more with it! I'd rather make 10 useful-but-not-so-pretty knives than 1 stunning-but-useless blade.

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Kevin Evans on January 29, 2009, 09:22:00 AM

I totally agree with Rob!!Heck it only cost a couple of bucks a foot just buy good steel and don't drink that extra soda .Of course this is only my opinion

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: KHALVERSON on January 29, 2009, 08:16:00 PM

im with rob practice with the good stuff
or recycled material that has the potential to be a good knife

Title: Re: Lowe's Steel?
Post by: Steve Nuckels on January 29, 2009, 08:51:00 PM

Thanks for all the responses!