View Full Version : Machete (sort of thing)
Would it be suitable to make a machete styled tool out of mild steel??
bambodoggy
12-10-2005, 12:52
Only if you don't mind it bending and going blunt all the time....lol....could be good for chopping round corners! :D
Bam. :)
C_Claycomb
12-10-2005, 13:18
You could....but Bam is right :lmao:
Mild steel will work harden somewhat if you beat on it enough. But you will still only have a fairly weak blade that won't hold its edge, or retain its shape as well as something made of steel with a higher carbon content.
With cheap machetes at the prices they are, why do you want to make one out of inferior steel? Is it for the interest of making, or because you want to save money?
What sort of size machete did you want, what did you want to use it on?
It is in the interest of making. I was just wondering if it would be possible as i have alot of mild steel lying around.
I worked out how much it would be to buy enough o1 toolsteel to make one. And as you say it is far from expensive.
I was looking at something with about an 18" as it seems like quite a common length being used. I would probably only use it for limbing and felling of small trees. Similar use to the Gransfors bruks Small Forest Axe.
TheViking
13-10-2005, 09:30
I read somewhere on bladeforums that O1 wasn't very suitable for big knives. A lot of people over there recommends 5160. I agree this is a superb steel.
5160 , I belive that is the same as used for car springs . Any breaker will have loads of them and i recomend a leaf spring . Anneal it first , then thin it out with your hammer to get the thickness right (and lose some of the weight) then grind to shape and heat treat .
British Blades will have more specifics on the subject .
Pumbaa