tool steel sources USA
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Does anyone have any specific sources for the steel in the USA? I can get 18″ x 1 1/2 x 1/8 of O1 at McMastar-Carrr for $16.87 plus shipping which I did not figure. Link here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-steel-sheets/=q6dzyd
Just wondering if there is a cheaper place or if there is a place that sells this brick and mortar to avoid shipping. I am in the Washington DC area so I gather we have such a place but I am stuck trying to find it as I just don;t know what ot ask for, Thanks, John….
John,
Check with your local machine shops in the DC area. You should be able to walk right in and purchase the exact size piece you need. Depending on your facilities and what you are going to make with the tool steel you could ask for O-1 (Oil hardening) which is a common tool steel. However if you are going to make a blade for a plane and you want to heat treat it yourself you could ask for A-1 (Air Hardening) or W-1 (water hardening). They should be able to give you some instruction on how to complete the hardening and tempering depending on which steel you decide to buy. Or you could do the shaping and have them heat treat for you when you are ready.If I were going to make one plane iron I’d opt for the A-1 or the W-1 and avoid the oil mess…. it all gets you the same results.
10 January 2014 at 2:21 am #25653You can buy from MSC, and pay shipping from them, but I don’t think it is any cheaper than what you got John. The shipping for me pretty much doubled the cost. I ordered a piece from Grainger, same size as yours, and I will pick it up locally, but the total cost is still around $34.00.
10 January 2014 at 2:54 am #25656I ordered a piece of 01 tool steel 1/8″ x 1-1/2″ x 18″ from McMaster-Carr on Monday and it arrived yesterday (Wednesday). $23 total with shipping.
10 January 2014 at 1:01 pm #25678Is any one considering blades from Taiwanese-Style Planes, they from Lee Valley .Price from 7-10$. Lee Valley offering free shipping from time to time.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/Wood/page.aspx?p=46322&cat=1,41182,46334&ap=113 January 2014 at 5:45 pm #25879Enco (on line) has both O-1 and A-2 in Starrett stock (precision ground flat stock, diminsoned to +/- .005″) in the exact size required (18″ long). The O-1 is $18 and the A-2 is $32. Many things would work but I would stick with the O-1, simple heat treat, east to get.
cheers
You can get replacement block plane blade from home depot .http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-Block-Plane-Iron-Cutter-12-508/203891304#.UtYYwBPn9zk
14 February 2014 at 11:52 am #27835John, I made my blades out of an used cutter disc from a corn planter. They may average 15″ in diameter, 5/32 thick. I´ve cut it out with an eletric angle grinder, shaped, hardened and anealed. terrific cut, a bit too hard do work with hand tools. Very, very inexpensive.
[quote quote=25879]Enco (on line) has both O-1 and A-2 in Starrett stock (precision ground flat stock, diminsoned to +/- .005″) in the exact size required (18″ long). The O-1 is $18 and the A-2 is $32. Many things would work but I would stick with the O-1, simple heat treat, east to get.
[/quote]Starrett makes quality tools and sells quality steel. I know that Steve Knight (US plane maker from a few years back) used to use Starrett O-1 steel in the planes he sold. This is the route I would go if I did not want to buy a ready-made iron.
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