Vent: Why do people keep using mild steel for knife blades? Stop it.

Honestly, I saw a guy at a flea market last weekend trying to sell a knife he made from rebar. Ngl, I almost laughed in his face. Rebar is just mild steel, it won't hold an edge for more than a few cuts. I learned this the hard way 2 years ago when I made a camp knife out of some scrap angle iron. It dulled after one trip to chop some branches. If you want a real blade, use 1095 or 5160 at least. Has anyone else had to bite their tongue watching beginners waste good time on junk metal?

2 comments

2 Comments

shane_williams413d ago

Did you try using a cheap angle grinder to reprofile the edge before you gave up?

zarapalmer8d ago

A buddy of mine tried that exact move on a cheap hatchet he picked up at a garage sale. He figured a thirty dollar angle grinder from the hardware store would do the trick. Spent a whole Saturday grinding away at the edge, sparks flying everywhere, thought he was a real pro. Then he went to test it on a branch and the edge chipped so bad he almost threw the thing in the trash. Turns out those cheap grinders run way too hot if you don't know what you're doing, and he ruined the temper on the steel. Sometimes you get what you pay for, right?