Finding A2/O1 steel blanks

[2cool2hear]

Where can I find bunch of metals for tool building? Like chisels, blades, knives, etc. Buying iron/steel directly from tool dealers are expensive. I've been looking into buying or building a furnace for metal treatment.

Thanks

 

[airrj]

You can get tool steel from Enco. http://www.use-enco.com If you get on their email list they commonly have 10%-25% sales. Watch the Hot Deals section here and people often post the discount codes.

 

[KenB]

See Group 3 in first post, here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699736



Ken

 

[organ]

http://newjerseysteelbaron.com

No supplier will come more highly recommended... Aldo is the man.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Look up "New Jersey Steel Baron"

 

[St-rider]

Mcmastercarr.com

 

[KMScott]

I have found these guys for A2 toolsteel. They have the most reasonably priced bar stock I can find, cheaper on e-bay then any where else. They carry several different sizes and ship quickly. Look at their other items to find a size you are looking for. I use their A2 for bench vise jaws.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-X-1-1-4...387?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item22f990ebc3

 

[Tronyadorable]

http://newjerseysteelbaron.com

No supplier will come more highly recommended... Aldo is the man.

Aldo can also correct you if you're making a poor choice for the intended application. A2 isn't as easy to heat treat like the O and W series.

 

[A_Pmech]

Most small regional tool steel suppliers have a shorts room. Usually, steel in the shorts room is priced at a substantial discount under the wholesale price. However, you much purchase a minimum quantity of X pounds. Usually between 100 and 500 lbs.

If you had to pick only one tool steel, I would choose S-7. It is not difficult to machine, easy to heat treat, has good edge holding properties and excellent shock resisting properties.