Replies

1. 
   Knotscott | Sep 13, 2008 03:23am | #1

   Those blades look great....nice skill to have! I love my MF 8, 11, and 14. Maybe I'll hire you someday to make a custom blade for one of them! ;)

2. 
   philip | Sep 13, 2008 05:01am | #2

   Hi John,
   Here's a table that may be of interest both to you and others.
   Would you be able to give a supplier address for the A2 steel stock- the main suppliers here say they can't get flat bar stock in the widths one would require for plane blades....?
   How did you get that heat , measure the temp and do you have access to a hardness tester?
   Wacking off that decarb is an easy quick job with a belt grinder if you have one or would want to make one.

   Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   Sequim Tool | Sep 13, 2008 05:56am | #3

   Hi Phil
   I get tool steel from Pacific Machinery and Tool Steel Co. 3445 N.W. Luzon. Portland, OR. 97210 Phone: 503-226-7656. See if you can get them to send you a copy the Stock List and Reference Book. It's full of good steel stuff. He is now selling on E-Bay too.
   I have a big electric heat-treating furnace. It's digital electronic controlled.
   Hardness testing, no rockwell tester, I use a file for hardness as files are 62.5 Rockwell.
   And yes your big belt grinder is very nice. Just keep it under 300 or say good-by to the heat-treat.
   I have some old book on steel, heat-treating, decarb you may like. I will sent you some copies.
   John

1. 
   philip | Sep 13, 2008 07:37am | #4

   Thanks John, I would appreciate the old books very much.
   The fact about file hardness is a useful reference which I was not aware of.Philip Marcou

1. 
   Sequim Tool | Sep 16, 2008 01:46am | #8

   I sent off some info for you, hope it gets to you. Fix your address on your web page, no zip code.
   John

2. 
   Tony Z | Sep 14, 2008 01:52am | #5

   Phillip,

   If you have any trouble getting the sizes of A2 you want/need, send me an email listing the same.  I have sources out here in PA that I buy steel from that can get anything you would want.

   Tony Z.

1. 
   philip | Sep 14, 2008 04:03am | #6

   Thanks Tony, much appreciated.Philip Marcou

2. 
   lwilliams | Sep 14, 2008 04:21am | #7

   "...I have sources out here in PA that I buy steel from that can get anything you would want."

   Really? How about O-1 or W-1 in fully spherodized bar stock that isn't "precision" ground? Steel supplier's idea of precision is pretty coarse, pretty irregular and causes a lot of unnecessary extra work. Larger sheet stock is a problem, not only because I don't have a way to handle or cut it, because the grit between the sheets causes some pretty deep gouges when it's moved.