The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need. |
08-23-2012, 12:27 AM
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Enthusiast
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Vaughn, Montana
Posts: 33
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A2 trouble
Hey everyone, a friend of mine sent me a big box of O-1 today, and in it there was some steel marked as A2. I have tried to find some info about this stuff through the search bar, but have not found anything really relevant. Anybody out there used the stuff for anything? Any information about it would help!
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08-23-2012, 06:44 AM
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Skilled
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 484
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A very good air hardening steel that holds a great edge, slightly better than 01, but requires much more heat in the HT of it. Upwards of 1775? with a 30 minute to an hour soak and pre-heat soaks. Most often today it is plate quenched, but does very well with just forced air. If you have the means to HT it, I think you will find it makes a very fine knife.
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08-23-2012, 08:20 AM
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Founding Member / Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
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Look on the alphaknifesupply website for HT specs on most of the common blade steels. As WBE said, it's great if you have the means to HT it - an electric furnace is required to do it right (true for O1 too) ....
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08-23-2012, 09:40 AM
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Enthusiast
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Vaughn, Montana
Posts: 33
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Thanks for the HT advice. I am most likely going to send this stuff out for it since I don't have anything that gets that hot. And I cant really purchase anything that does with my first child on the way. (You know how it goes; stock up on diapers, wipes, building furniture, ect.) My lady is demanding that I make a bunch of knives as soon as possible so that she will have sheaths to make once she is stuck at home on maternity leave lol!
You guys have any other advice on working with A2? Anything helps!
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08-23-2012, 10:10 AM
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Steel Addict
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ponchatoula, LA
Posts: 168
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Congrats on the soon to be addition to your household, A2 is a great steel and holds a good edge when heat treated properly. I use Paul Bos and usually send a batch of 20 knives to him (you can mix A2 and D2 at no extra charge) and he gives them a Rc 60 HT. You get the best price this way.
This steel polishes well but only has about 5% Cr so it will stain if not given a high polish and a little bit of oil.
Regards,
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08-24-2012, 12:15 AM
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Steel Addict
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Longshot
Thanks for the HT advice. I am most likely going to send this stuff out for it since I don't have anything that gets that hot. And I cant really purchase anything that does with my first child on the way. (You know how it goes; stock up on diapers, wipes, building furniture, ect.) My lady is demanding that I make a bunch of knives as soon as possible so that she will have sheaths to make once she is stuck at home on maternity leave lol!
You guys have any other advice on working with A2? Anything helps!
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WoW!! My wife thinks I'm slightly touched to want to make knives to begin with. Now she thinks I'm truly abnormal because I informed her that I will be giving them away!! I don't see her doing any leatherwork in the near or distant future...
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Tags
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advice, at home, blade, building, common, edge, home, hot, knife, knives, make, quenched, sheaths, steel |
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