1084 steel - what is it good for?

[Elnathan]

I had to buy some sheet brass recently, and went ahead and bought a piece of 1084 steel, since it was inexpensive, I was already paying shipping, and it never hurts to have a piece of good steel handy.
I am pretty sure it would make good knives. Would it make good chisels, or spokeshave blades? Judging from the carbon content alone, it would sound closer to O-1 (.90%) than 5160 (.60%), but judging from some things I have read it seems like it is used in the same way as the latter.

 

[Stophel]

Knife blades, springs, etc. Good old fashioned, plain, high carbon steel. They way it oughtta be. :wink:

 

[LRB]

1084 is one of the best choices for a knife, if you are forced to do a simple heat treat. .84 is the book amount of carbon, but the acual content will vary from batch, to batch, and it can run as high as .90%. All high carbon steel benefits from some amount of soak at quench temp, but with 1084 you would not likely notice any difference, if this is not possible. Steel will not solutionize more than .80%, to .85% of carbon. Steel with more carbon has to soak at quench temp, around 1475o, to 1500o, for a while in order to disperse the left over carbon in an even manner. If not, you end up with hard and soft spots, and a blade will not be quite as strong as it could be. In short, 1084 will make you a very good blade.

 

[chipper]

Where did you get the steel? I need a good source, everwhere I go It tends to be quite pricy.

Regards

 

[ameling]

I've been getting my specialty steel out of Admiral Steel Online from Palatine IL. A web search should bring you to their web site.

They are a major steel supplier/wholesaler, but do specifically sell all types of steel alloys to Knife Makers in small lots - without high minimums. Just be sure to tell them that you are a "knife maker" right from the start. Otherwise they do have some minimum order amounts/pricing that kicks in. I usually order HR 1095 from them for making flint strikers, occasionally some HR 1080.

But also don't forget about old lawn mower blades. They are generally made from either 1084 or 5160 steels. Great stuff for knives, strikers, chisels, and most any normal cutting tools. I made some Viking era wood working tools from some lawn mower blades, and from some pieces of "agricultural" steel - plow and chisel points (these are generally 1080 carbon steel).

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[Elnathan]

I got my brass and steel from Sheffield Steel. The catalog is out of date, so check the prices before ordering, and the lady who answers the phone tends to be a bit abrupt, but means no harm as far as I can tell.


Mike, I thought about ordering some 5160 to make a sword from Admiral a couple years ago, and the price was too high for my budget and minimum too large for my needs, IIRC. Maybe I should have told them I was a knifemaker?

Thanks for the information, everyone.