Cheap steel for making a knife

[Tim Ault]

I'm considering making a few knives to pass the time these day and was wondering what I could make them out of on the cheap of course . I have access to a water jet at work to cut it to the exact shape I want but don't have a heat treat source or anything like that except a cutting torch . So that being said is there anything already the right temper or hardness suitable for a decent blade that I can put and hold a decent edge on ?  I've hear mention mower blades and circular saw blades  what else can I be looking for to cut out into a blade  ? And would I need to do anything besides sharpen ? This is my first venture into making a knife from scratch .

Thanks , Tim

[gunmaker]

Files are a ready source of steel.  They can be used as is "HARD"  or annealed with a torch, heat to a dark red & let air cool.  I've made knives without annealing and it works O.K.  (hard to get an edge, but holds one longer when you do get it sharp)  just don't burn the steel by to much grinding pressure.  Old car springs, any spring you can get really.  This is a big file. ...Tom

[Rev]

I have some diamond concrete cutting blades you can have for the cost of shipping...
4 or 5 I think, 12 or more inches across...

[Rev]

For heat treating all you need is an oven, like the one in your kitchen...

[naultrick1]

Being a welder for close to 30yrs all you need is a torch and a grinder IMO, watch it though acetylene puts out a lot of heat.

[Tim Ault]

I have some diamond concrete cutting blades you can have for the cost of shipping...
4 or 5 I think, 12 or more inches across...

thank you for the offer  about how thick are those blades? Like I said never made one but thinking about .180  thick give or take sounds about right for a general use knife .

Thanks , Tim

[Rev]

Don't know. A little thicker than a table saw blade, I think. When I get a chance I will dig out my micrometer...

[pilgrim]

     How about used/spent rotary mower blades?  They are fairly thick

[Red Badger]

I have seen lawn mower blades used before and truned into some mighty fine knives

[halfstock]

Red your absolutely right, if you can find the straight ones they make an extremely good knife and also so a tremendous thowing knife.

[Tim Ault]

Thanks all ,   I'll be on the look out and I also have access to a surface grinder at work so I can make it whatever thickness I desire . One question on the mower
blades  are they soft enough to shape the edge with a file or will I need to grind on it ?

Thanks , Tim

[pilgrim]

     I sharpen the blades with a file

[Red Badger]

I'm lazy and have used the grinder, but I grind for about 15 sec then quench and repeat...

[Tim Ault]

Thanks all I discovered a good find at work of a large wood blade  approx. .125" thick      Just have to do some thinking and sketching of the type of blade i wanna make . Will keep you all posted when I have it cut out .

Thanks again,Tim