Has anyone made a knife from a sucker rod. I am currently very well stocked in 5160 from Admiral Steel. Just curious about these. I have been told that most are made from 4140 and in the oil field I can get enough for free to do tons of my own testing. I have done some quench tests in water and they shatter like glass and crack all over. They make good chisels but what about a knife?
Edited to say: I know that I wouldn't advocate anyone making and selling a knife of used (unknown really) steel. I thought I might do some practicing for an integral though one of these days.
I also have a large quantity of scrap sucker rod (I used to build fencing from them)and have tried doing some heat treating with them. I would not recommend trying to make a knife out of it, as the steel doesn't really get to the hardness range a good blade needs. If you are sure that the sucker rod you have is 4140, here is a link to some treatment data I found on Anvilfire.com for 4140: http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/heat-treating-4140.php
That said, you should probably use it for making forging tools. I have some drifts I made from sucker rod and they work pretty well. They do make a good fullering jig (if you like a 3/4" fuller. Have fun and see what works. The stuff forges pretty well and my wife has made some beautiful floral pieces from them.
Joshua States
www.dosgatosforge.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg
https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71
Also on Instagram and Facebook as J.States Bladesmith
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.â€
