john marcus Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Don, Obviously this steel can produce quite a hamon. I'll be forging out a knife from this steel in the next couple of weeks and want to try my hand at obtaining a hamon. What type of quench are you using and how do you temper your blades? Thanks, Kris After normalizing 3 to 5 times, I heat a clayed blade to 1450f or a little above non-magnetic and quench in Park's 50 quench oil, then temper 1 hour twice @ 425f. Any fast quench will work but Park's is the fastest and produces super results. from don to me infinite edge cutlery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPeacock Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 thanks for the info, John. I'll give it a shot once i get a chance to make my little steel hockey pucks into something a bit more pointy. Have you ever thought about the life of steel? It's interesting to think that you can control the fate of a piece of metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 John, thanks for answering that. Kris, if you have any other questions, just holler. Guys, I'll have 2.5" W2 cut and ready to ship soon. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Madigan Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Don, I don't want to be nosey or anything, but how did you end up being an iron monger? Did you buy up some NOS surplus or have someone smelt a batch? If this is private business information, I totally understand. I'm just curious. It seems like a lot of work handling so many tons of steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Don, I don't want to be nosey or anything, but how did you end up being an iron monger? Did you buy up some NOS surplus or have someone smelt a batch?If this is private business information, I totally understand. I'm just curious. It seems like a lot of work handling so many tons of steel. It has been a lot of work, but I like doing it and gives me a break from my regular job of knife making. I found a surplus of old stock, around 35,000 lbs and have been acquiring it in 2000-4000 lb shipments over the last 4-5 years and have shipped around 25,000 lbs so far. Have spent many, many hours unloading, stacking, cutting, packaging and shipping, not to mention the cost of bandsaw blades and strapping tape I'll have about 2000 lbs of 2.5" W2 cut and ready to ship in a week or so. I also found a few 12 foot bars of the 2-1/8" that I thought was all gone, I'll probably keep most of it but if anyone wants 2-1/8" just let me know. I recently have looked into having a smelt of W2 made but have come up with dead ends so far. It wont be easy! Thanks guys!!! Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedNeckLeftie Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Wow, Don, you have been a busy beaver, so-to-speak. I'm curious, roughly what's holding the smelters up from doing a melt, volume, cost, or ??? This is some really great steel, IMHO. Thanks, Brian K. Rogue Amateur and Weekend Hobbyist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Brian, I've contacted two mills and they just weren't interested, didn't even get to quantity or price. I'm afraid quantity and price will be a problem when I find a mill to make it. We'll see, I'm working with a tool steel distributor right now that might work out. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Don If it means anything I would be willing to chip in a few bucks to help if it is a cost issue. I mean I do not have much but if it helps you get closer to your goal I am sure, and I think I can speak for everyone involved that we would all chip in if it means getting more of that W-2. John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 John, thank you for that, it means a lot. I'll keep y'all informed. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 No Don Thank you for that wanderful W-2 John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeO Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 I'd also go up front with the others interested too, would it be more expensive coming in flat rather than round ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Hi Lee, thanks! I've been told flats cost more to produce than rounds, but I can't guess on price right now. Will let y'all know as soon as I find out. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deker Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Hey Don, Have you talked to some of the small batch mills? A quick Google gave me this place. they only have a 250lb minimum, so they'd be willing to talk to you I'm sure... -d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) Hey Don, Have you talked to some of the small batch mills? A quick Google gave me this place. they only have a 250lb minimum, so they'd be willing to talk to you I'm sure... -d Hi Dek, this was the first place I contacted, guy on the phone said they no longer do custom melts. There are a lot of web sites out there that need to be updated. Especially the ones that list W2 and one in particular (Diehl steel) that list the specs wrong for W1 and W2. Edited August 18, 2009 by Don Hanson Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Madigan Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Diehl would be really expensive. I made an inquiry to get a rough idea of price per pound. Its about 3-4 times Don's price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 (edited) An interesting discussion on Diehl's W2; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669319 At least they changed the specs for W1 / W2 on their site but.... Edited August 19, 2009 by Don Hanson Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I was reading it and well How do you know if they get your W-2 right or wrong. Do they do a test run and send you a piece to have tested? I mean that is alot of money. My rant all of a sudden John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) John, there is risk involved. I sure would hate to be stuck with 80,000 lbs of junk. If I have a batch made, I'll need to go with a company that I trust and has a good track record. Also, the steel should be made very close to the specs ordered. Otherwise, I wouldn't accept it. Edited August 20, 2009 by Don Hanson Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Ok cool as I am very interested in this process. And I would like to one day watch it happen. So I hope you can put up with me baggering you about this whole process. I wish we could see this on video or even a field trip, yeah I vote field trip. LOL John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Bondurant Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 John, there is risk involved. I sure would hate to be stuck with 80,000 lbs of junk. If I have a batch made, I'll need to go with a company that I trust and has a good track record. Also, the steel should be made very close to the specs ordered. Otherwise, I wouldn't accept it. You got that right! Having lived across the pond for a few years I have had to resource anything I wanted through local sources. Funny thing is every time I ask if somebody has something or they can do it they always say yes. A good many times this proved 100 incorrect on their part as they did not have a clue as to what was going on when all was said and done. A good example was a recent sales person telling me they had high carbon steel only to read the specs and find there was almost no carbon in it, it was useless to me. They sat there in their fancy clothes behind a big desk and talked a good game but proved only to be a idiot when it came to the facts. Point being, in this situation its much better to find steel that's already been made, that can be tested, is on the money. Trying to have a company make a batch of steel they are not already making for a broader market is biting off enough to choke on if they get it wrong. The good news is there is Steel out there, no telling who will luck onto the next batch of it but there are a few people always looking. I wanted to get some of this W2 but I have a problem with customs here and its easier for me to get steel from Germany right now. I have a few sources for High Carbon Steel in Germany as do the German guys on the forum here. For now the price is wrong to ship it to the United States but if things go crazy and you guys run out of stock there is Steel available there in Germany and its the right kind. Don, Good luck in finding another batch. There is something primal about treasure hunting, digging around old barns, old shops, and warehouses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Good post Bryan! Point being, in this situation its much better to find steel that's already been made, that can be tested, is on the money. Good news is, I have around 3,000 lbs of the good W2 available. But it's 2-1/8" and mostly 2-1/2" rounds. I also ship a lot to Europe with no problems. John, no prob, you bring up good questions. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 (edited) Hi folks, just got a bunch of 2.5" W2 cut and ready to ship. This W2 is from the same melt as the stuff I've been using / selling. Made in the USA. Bar size is; 2.5" x 8" long, 11.5 lbs. 4 bars per box, 46 lbs, $165 shipped in the US, including HI & AK. $160 per box 40 boxes available. 34 left Paypal address; info@sunfishforge.com I can ship overseas and to Canada but 20 lb max and additional shipping charge, contact me for details. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I also have more 2-1/8", that I thought was 2-1/4" Bar size is; 2.125" x 10" long, 10 lbs. 4 bars per box, 40 lbs, $140 shipped in the US, including HI & AK. 22 boxes available. 16 left Thanks guys, Edited October 13, 2009 by Don Hanson Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 One I'm working on right now. Froged from 2-1/8" W2. Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hanson Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Price drop on the 2.5" $160 per 46 lb box ($3.47 per lb) The 2-1/8" is slowly goin out the door but I see there's not much interest in the 2.5". I don't mind keeping it. Just saying Don Hanson lll My Webpage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Kaschner Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Don, Paypal sent. The 2.5" doesn't phase my press a bit. :-) Thanks, Dan Kaschner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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