10 steel for beginner knife making

Being a knife maker doesn’t come easy, he oftentimes, faced with confusion and doesn’t know what to do. the best steel for beginner knife making will solve this issue.

The most confusing thing a knife maker always runs into is the question of what quality of knife making steel to use. The quality of steel used in producing a knife is vital because, when a knife is made of poor steel, it faces so many criticisms and problems. It breaks, rusts, and most times loses its sharpness. If you are looking to build a career in knife-making, it would be best for you to properly research good knife-making steel before making your brand knife.

It is no news that there are of cause so many steels out there, so sometimes trying to find the perfect steel can be tasking. But, I have made it easy for you by compiling a list of the 10 best steel for beginner knife making, which will help you in your journey of making a good knife. A knife is meant to be strong, firm, sharp, and if your knife is missing any of these features, then I guess you need to switch career goals or simply read through this article for help.

List of the 10 best steel for beginner knife making

1. 1095 STEEL BARSTOCK – best for beginner knife making – Made in the USA, Multi-functional steel
2. W2 STEEL – best for beginner and professional knife makers – Hot rolled, High carbon, Vanadium
3. Mr. VOLCANO 3-PACK KNIFE BLADE STEEL– best price knife making steel- 1095 carbon steel, Comes at a perfect size for all
4. RMP KNIFE BLADE STEEL– best overall for beginner- 1095 carbon steel, 7.4 ounces in weight, made in the USA
5. RMP KNIFE BLADE STEEL HIGH CARBON– best affordable- sharpens easily and has an anti-rust feature
6. MNAB 8704 LADDER PATTERN CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL BILLET– best for all beginners
7. 01 TOOL STEEL SHEET PRECISION GROUND – best beginner knife making steels- Better machinability, Ground precision
8. KNIFE STEEL 80CRV2 ANNEALED STEEL– best ever- steel is beginner-friendly, great steel for making knives
9. BLD-54 CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL– Ladder pattern, steel hardens well
10. KNIFE STEEL 1084 ANNEALED– best for beginner- Easy to heat, great value for money

The best steel for beginner knife maker

So am guessing you still want to advance in your vision, well no problem, I got you covered. You will be learning something an experienced knife maker already knows when it comes to making a good knife, the steel that I will be listing out here has proven to be strong, beautiful, sharp, and durable. Trust me when I say, they are utterly the best in the market. So without further introductions, let us begin.

The 10 steel for beginner knife making can be used to make knives using different methods. You may decide to use the forging method or the stock removal method. Now it doesn’t really matter which method you decide to use when making your knife, all that matters is the type of steel you choose to use.

Best steel for beginner knife making reviews

Let’s have a look at the review of knife making steel for beginners-

1. RMP Knife Blade Steel – High Carbon Annealed steel for beginners

The 1095 steel bar stock forging is the best knife making steel made in the USA from the manufacturers of GRA products, which can be used to make other metalsmith objects. The steel has a high carbon that makes it very easy to use, and shape when using the forging process.

The steel is easy to forge because, it lacks manganese found in other steels which makes them hard, so this steel has a less hardening feature. The steel carbon-filled material makes it abrasion resistant, requiring more care when it is undergoing the heating process, and take note, avoid lamellar treatment process.

The heat should be up to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit/1150 Celsius. Forging the steel below 1500 degrees Fahrenheit/ 815 degrees Celsius.  After heating the steel a 1575 Celsius, cool the steel in still air. When you want to anneal, you want to use 1475 degrees Fahrenheit, and cool with 1200 degrees Fahrenheit not exceeding 50 degrees Fahrenheit per hour.

With this steel, I guarantee your knife will be top quality and will last for as long as you want. This is one of the best steel to make the best affordable kitchen knife.

STEEL FEATURES:

• Weighs 11.2 ounce
• Made in the USA
• Multi-functional steel
• The carbon content for quality
• Cold rolled
• Annealed
• 12.2 X 1.6 X 0.35 inches in length

ADVANTAGES:

• Steel edge holds firmly after heated
• The carbon material makes the steel a good choice for knife making
• The steel is perfect for stock removal and forging

DISADVANTAGES:

• The steel can sometimes rust
• The steel might not be hard enough after the heat treat

2. W2 Steel Flat Barstock – best Alloy Steel for knife making

The w2 best steel flat bar stock is a product of Arizona Knife makers. This knife-making steel also is one of the top choices of steel used by professional knife makers.

The steel contains a very high carbon steel material like; the w1 or T10 including vanadium. The vanadium helps the steel maintain a particular regular structure, and keeps the size when undergoing heat treatment, which makes it a lot tougher when quenched, and tempered, and also less brittle.

The steel has added toughness that makes it a material you can use to make even bigger blades, choppers, and others. It produces Hamons, and since the carbon content is a bit high, a park50 quench oil would be recommended for quenching after heating.

STEEL FEATURES:

• Hot rolled
• High carbon
• Vanadium
• 1.5 pounds
• 12 X 1.5 X 0.5 inches in length

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel is perfect for making knives
• The steel is also good for forging and grinding
• Strong enough to handle any hard task
• Doesn’t break easily

DISADVANTAGES:

• Not too light

3. Mr Volcano 1095 Steel (3 Pack) Knife Blade – best High Carbon Annealed steel for making knife.

Mr volcano forge 1095 steel is awesome when it comes to fantastic knife making, from the Penko manufacturers made in the USA. This best steel has low phosphorus, low sulfur, and calcium, which gives the steel internal cleanliness in the As rolled condition.

The steel is annealed to increase strength, and when heated gives a perfect result that you can use to make other blades, tools, shims, and knives. It is stock removal, forging, and grinding ready.

STEEL FEATURES:

• 3/16 inches thick
• 1.5 inches wide
• 12 inches in length
• Annealed weighs 2.74 pounds
• 1095 high carbon steel

ADVANTAGES:

• Its 1095 carbon steel content makes the steel durable, and number one choice for knife making
• Comes at a perfect size for all
• The steel is of great quality, and condition upon arrival

DISADVANTAGES:

• The size of the width is slightly under than the proposed width
• When the steel comes in bent, it can take time to grind it straight

4. RMP Knife Blade Steel – High Carbon Annealed, 1095 Knife Making Billets

When you are considering getting the best quality steel for your knife making, I would recommend you get the RMP Knife Blade steel. This steel has proven to be strong, easy to use, and durable. Made from quality material, the steel is able to bend at will, making knife making easy and efficient.

From the Rose metal products manufacturers, made in the USA, this steel has a high carbon material that allows you to sharpen it easily and resists chipping. It is also a great edge holder. The steel is completely light, weighing 7.4 ounces, and made from 1095 carbon steel for added durability.

STEEL FEATURES:

• 1095 carbon steel
• 7.4 ounce in weight
• 12 x 1.5 x0.19 inches in length
• Made in the USA

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel is made thick to ensure durability
• The outside edges of the steel are hardened enough to give blade durability

DISADVANTAGES:

• The steel might be of high quality but, it is annealed

5. RMP Knife Blade Steel – High Carbon Annealed

Another great product from the RMP (rose metal products) best Knife Blade Manufacturers is carbon annealed steel. This fantastic steel is twice as strong as other steel made by the same manufacturer.

It contains high carbon annealed material,1095 knife-making billets, which makes it better than the other products from the manufacturer.

The RMP knife billet sharpens easily and has an anti-rust feature that makes the steel last longer. The steel is relatively slim, and when it undergoes the heating process, it is easy to bend without stress.

STEEL FEATURES:

• 1095 Carbon steel
• Made in the USA
• Annealed
• 3.74 pounds in weight
• 12.2 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches in length

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel is quite smooth and easy to heat
• It is a great value for money
• The steel annealed feature is strong enough to ensure durability

DISADVANTAGES:

• Apparently, there hasn’t been any fault recorded in the usage of this steel

6. Handmade Damascus Steel Bar – Custom Damascus Steel Billet.

The MNAB 8704 Ladder Pattern Custom Handmade Damascus Steel Billet is the best quality knife making steel blade made from Pal 2000 knives manufacturers. The steel has a 12 inches x 2 inches’ x 5MM thickness, a ladder pattern Damascus steel billet bar blank blade that makes knife making so easy.

But funny thing is, with this steel you can also make a thing that is not related to knife making, things like jewelry, and other items.

The pattern of the steel is acid etched stunning, with patterns that make the steel so beautiful, and of the best quality. The steel blade also comes in 15 types of patterns all in different sizes and styles. It employs a 1095/ 15N20 alloy steel with 352 true layers. The steel is handmade, and original guaranteed.

STEEL FEATURES:

• 12.68 x 2.09 x 0.28 inches in length
•  Weighs 0.63 kilogram
• 352 true layers
• 1095/15N20 alloy steel

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel is built to withstand any type of forging process, great quality steel for knife making

DISADVANTAGES:

• The steel can sometimes chip, and fall apart
• The material seems to forged wrongly

7. O1 Tool Steel Sheet, Precision Ground

The 01 tool steel sheet has been grounded with precision to ensure standard tolerance. It has a better machinability feature better than other steel materials, one of the best steel for knife making.

The 01 tool steel grade is more advanced than the A2 steel, and unlike the A2 tool steel, the 01 tool steel must be hardened in oil, which can be done with or without low temperature that gives it good dimensional stability.

The best steel sheet for knife making has been grounded to get a precise shape and size. It also has a composition of the alloy, with carbon that modifies the features of the steel. The steel has a higher carbon content that makes it stronger, harder, and wear-resistant, while others with a low carbon content have the tendency to be more formidable, and weldable.

This best carbon steel includes; AISI-SAE grades in a 1000 range, classified by the level of carbon content that is low (below 0.3%), medium (0.3% to 0.6%), and high (0.6%, and above). Its alloy steel includes AISI-SAE grades in 1300 and 4000 ranges. There is a lot that this steel contains which makes it as quality as possible, and knife making is recommended for beginner knife makers.

STEEL FEATURES:

• Better machinability
• 1/8″ Thickness, 2″ Width, 18″ Length
• ASTM A681 specified
• Ground precision
• Weighs 16 ounces
• 20.51 x 1.73 x 0.12 inches in length

ADVANTAGES:

• Steel doesn’t wrap when heating and gives you good knife making experience
• It is easy to handle because it has an oil steel feature

DISADVANTAGES:

• It might take too long to bend, and thus takes a lot of time

8. Knife Steel 80CRV2 Annealed 1/8″ x 1-1/2″ x 12″ Knife Blade Steel

The 80CRV2 is the custom-made best steel for knife making, made in the USA that is easy to heat. The 80CRV2 steel is the perfect steel for all beginner knife makers because it is easy to heat, making it the easiest steel to use compared to the 1095 steel. It has an 80% carbon content, making it very hard steel with a wear resistance feature.

The steel can be used to make knives mostly, that will not be too thin, examples which are swords, chopping knives, and daggers. Be sure to get a 100% guaranteed user-friendly experience with this steel.

STEEL FEATURES:

• 80CRV2 Steel
• Weighs 16 ounces
• 12.1 x 1.7 x 0.15 inches’ length

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel is beginner-friendly
• It’s a great steel for making knives
• It is hard, tough, and anti-rust

DISADVANTAGES:

• Steel might be considered too thick for thin knife making

9. BLD-49, Custom Handmade Damascus Steel

The BLD-54 Custom Handmade Damascus best steel for knife making also comes with a ladder pattern, with a full length of 10.40 inches, Total Width: 1.07 Inches, Total Thickness: 4.98 mm.

This best steel is made of quality material, making sure that you get the best user experience when using the steel to make your knife. The steel is a Poshland brand, from the Poshland knives manufacturers, weighing 1.35 pounds.

STEEL FEATURES:

• Damascus steel billet
• Ladder pattern
• 1.35 pounds in weight
• 10.8 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches in length

ADVANTAGES:

• The ladder patterns make the blade look stylish and beautiful
• The steel hardens well when undergoing heat treatment
• The bar comes very flat with no cold shunts

DISADVANTAGES:

• Might show de-lamination when grinding
• Might not be completely flat to customer’s satisfaction
• Steel can come in a bit lumpy

10. RMP Knife Blade Steel – High Carbon Annealed, 1095 Knife Making Billets

The knife-making steel 1084 annealed is the best high carbon quality steel that can eventually rust if not taken care of properly, and it’s being eutectoid steel makes it very simple to heat, and treat.

For beginner knife makers, this is a highly recommended best steel, and also can be used by professional blacksmiths. It is made in the USA and guarantees 100% satisfaction and user experience.

STEEL FEATURES:

• Easy to heat
• Weighs 10.4 ounces
• 11.6 x 1.8 x 0.2 inches in length
• Made in the USA

ADVANTAGES:

• The steel has great value for money
• It moves really well when undergoing the heating process

DISADVANTAGES:

• Steel might rust if not properly taken care of

Buying guide of best steel for beginners knife making

All 10 best steel for beginners knife making are all quality steels and be guaranteed that you will get the best experience when using them. To be on the safer side, you might want to consider a few added factors to make sure you get the best for your money.

Hardness

As we know, hardness is the ability of something to resist deformity when undergoing different processes that usually involve the application of force. Before getting steel for your knife, you might want to consider this factor because the harder the steel, the more durable it will become. Hard steel might be hard to bend, but when the actual size and shape are acquired, it makes it hard to break or lose shape.

Toughness

The toughness of steel is also important when considering a steel purchase. It is the ability the steel has, to resist damage such as; cracks, and chips when undergoing any process of transformation. Its toughness determines how long it will remain in shape and style.

Wear resistance

considering steel with a wear resistance feature means the steel must be able to withstand any damage that may come from abrasive, and adhesive wear. The abrasive wear only occurs when hard particles move over a soft surface, while the adhesive wear is when debris leaves one surface and attaches itself to the other. Wear resistance, in general, is related to the steels chemistry, and hardness

Edge retention

The edge retention is basically the time span the sharpness of the blade stays even after frequent use.

Corrosion resistance

This feature of the steel is when the steel has the ability to resist rust caused by other elements like water, and salt. Once steel can withstand rust, it makes your knife or blade top quality.

FAQ

Is 1095 steel good for beginner knife makers?

The Volcano 1095 Steel is one of the best carbon steel for knife making. It delivers an excellent heat treat result, and it’s perfect to create blades or other blade types with this material in your toolkit!

Can a knife be made out of mild steel?

Of course, a knife can be made out of mild steel! In fact, knives are typically made out of high carbon steel, which is a type of mild steel. High carbon steels have more carbon than low carbon steels, and this makes them harder and stronger. However, they are also more brittle and can break if not used carefully.

Is Damascus steel the best?

There’s no simple answer to this question. Damascus steel is renowned for its strength and beauty, but it has its drawbacks. For one thing, it’s expensive. And because it’s made by layering different types of steel, it can be difficult to work with.

So, is Damascus steel the best? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a strong, beautiful knife that will last a lifetime, Damascus steel is a good option. But if you’re looking for something more affordable or easier to work with, you might want to choose another type of steel.

What is the best steel for making a knife?

There are a few different types of steel that are typically used for making knives. These include carbon steel, stainless steel, and tool steel. Each type of steel has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Carbon steel is often considered the best type of steel for making knives. It is strong and durable and can take a sharp edge. However, it is also susceptible to rust, so it requires some maintenance.

Stainless steel is another popular option for knife-making. It is highly resistant to rust and corrosion, making it low-maintenance. However, it is not as strong as carbon steel and may not hold an edge as well.

Is 440 stainless steel good for knives?

Yes, 440 stainless steel is good for knives. It is a tough, corrosion-resistant metal that can hold an edge well. However, it is not the best choice for a high-end kitchen knife as it is not as wear-resistant as other options such as carbide or Damascus steel.

Conclusion:

Just as mentioned in the article, the 10 best steel for beginners knife making is easy to use steel for anybody that wants to go into the art of knife making. They can be used by both beginners, master craftsmen, and blacksmiths. They are quality steel that can make your knife better, and comparable to other top-quality steels.