making integrals?

[TYG]

hey guys,
I really want to make integrals but have been unable to find any round stock for forging. where can I find reasonably priced round stock? thanks

[Crex]

What dia?
The old barbell bars (the solid ones) -Sears, Joe Wieder, etc.- were made from 5160. Used to find them at the thrift stores for a couple of bucks, but most now are pipe with concrete filler. PTO shafts from JD tractors were also 5160. One of the steel vendors had W2 in the round but can't remember which one (been a while since I looked.
Alternative is to knock the corners in on some square stock.

[Ray Rogers]

Industrial supply places like MSC sell drill rod in large sizes. There's usually some W2 in there ...

[Doug Lester]

The New Jersey Steel Baron has had square stock in W1 and Alpha Knife Supply has had some 1.25" rounds in CruForgeV. You might give them a check.

Doug

[Fulmaduro]

Originally Posted by Doug Lester

The New Jersey Steel Baron has had square stock in W1 and Alpha Knife Supply has had some 1.25" rounds in CruForgeV. You might give them a check.

Doug

I too want some round stock to make a spring fuller for tangs while forging. I did see Admiral has 3/4" 52100 rods. Alpha is out of the CruForgeV rods according to their website. Other than that I couldn't find anything. Please post if you find a source. Thanks.

Tony Z

[Crex]

Tony, just curious, why use expensive hard to heattreat steel like 52100 for fullering work?
Get an old junked coil spring from a car for this abusive task. Not necessarily 5160 (as many would tell you), but plenty tough for fuller type work. Much cheaper/easier to come by and if you mess up, no biggie.

[argel55]

Ray Kirk has 52100 and 5160 in several sizes of round stock. He will even show you how to forge it on his utube video. Raker knives.

[miketheknife]

The last time I was in Fastenal they had round drill steel. Cant remeber what they were other than tool steel. Check thier website or your local branch.

[Doug Lester]

Not all Fastenall stores carry steel stock, like the one where I live. There are some online suppliers that carry W1 in round stock you'll just have to look.

Doug

[Fulmaduro]

Originally Posted by Crex

Tony, just curious, why use expensive hard to heattreat steel like 52100 for fullering work?
Get an old junked coil spring from a car for this abusive task. Not necessarily 5160 (as many would tell you), but plenty tough for fuller type work. Much cheaper/easier to come by and if you mess up, no biggie.

Carl, I actually got the idea of making my own fuller from the book Basic Knife Making by Hellwig and Rosinski. They actually used a coil spring in their pic tutorial. I know how to heat treat and temper 5160 and could probably handle 52100. I figured round bar stock would be easy to locate. But not anymore it seems. I didn't know it was easy to get old coil springs. I can try that route. Lots of auto repair places around me.

That book is a good read from across the pond in Germany. They even have the HT and temper directions for a coil spring made fuller. Thanks for the help and direction.

Tony Z

[Fulmaduro]

Originally Posted by argel55

Ray Kirk has 52100 and 5160 in several sizes of round stock. He will even show you how to forge it on his utube video. Raker knives.

I met Ray at the Arkansas Custom Knife Show in February and besides being a great guy he also had some beautiful integrals he made. And he also had a box of round stock and I realize now I should have gotten some from him since it is hard to find. I really like integrals and there is also a lot of eye candy pics on the SBC Brazilian forum here in KnifeNetwork forums. Those guys make a lot of really unique blades. Thanks.

Tony Z

[Crex]

What kind of fuller are you going to make? Unless it's a spring fuller that doesn't rest on the steel between strikes, heattreating either of the steels mentioned is pretty much a waste of time. The heat from the blade steel will transfer and negate any heattreating you've done.

[Fulmaduro]

I want to make a spring fuller. Like the one in Wayne Goddards $50 knife book. Kayne & Sons has one listed that is heat treated. My assumption was that they are heat treated. I was thinking 1" - 1 1/4" between the two rods. I have never used one yet. Not sure what I need to use or if HT needed. Thanks.

Tony Z

[argel55]

I saw Brion Tomberlin use one that he had made out of 1/2 rebar. Just bent it in the middle and straightened it so it would hit parrellel.

[Fulmaduro]

Originally Posted by argel55

I saw Brion Tomberlin use one that he had made out of 1/2 rebar. Just bent it in the middle and straightened it so it would hit parrellel.

Well that might just be what I should try 1st and see how she works. Thank you again!

Tony Z