PSA: That scrap yard run saved me $40 on spring steel

Went to the scrap yard over by the old rail depot yesterday and found three coil springs from a semi truck. Paid $8 for all of them, enough to make a dozen knives after flattening and grinding. The steel on these big truck springs is usually 5160, same stuff you'd buy new for way more. Anyone else have good luck with specific scrap finds for blade stock?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarabell1mo agoMost Upvoted

Didn't a buddy pull an old plow blade from a scrap pile and make three solid camp knives?

the_diana1mo ago

Oh yeah, that's a classic move. Old plow blades are usually made of decent spring steel, so they can make great knives if you know what you're doing. The trick is annealing it first so you can actually grind it, then heat treat it properly after shaping. Just gotta watch for cracks in the old steel, sometimes they're hiding right where you don't expect them.