Tools from Industrial Hacksaw blades

[xsailer]

I just bought two used hacksaw blades. One has Lenox Matrix(1") marking the other(3/4") no markings. I looked up the Lenox Matrix and indeed it is a "non" metal at the cutting edge and carbon steel the rest, I assume. I filed both at the cutting edge and it is harder there than at the back of the blade so I wondering if I can make carving knives or light weight gouges with it? If I may have to heat treat it, if it has enough carbon. I've read about hacksaw blades that are in this condition but can't find or remember the final analysis. Can any of you tool makers lead me in the right direction?

Should I just return them for my $10.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I have never tried making tools from them but hear it works, are they 1" and 3/4" thick or wide. I don't know about this or I wouldn't ask, a simple way to see what kind of steel and the quality is the spark test described in Leonard Lees sharpening book.
Carl

[BobT]

My brother has a machine shop and gives me all of his broken or dull blades. I have never tried to retemper them prior to grinding.. I grind the teeth off (water grinder so it stays cool), then grind the shape and profile I want. Now it is still too hard. I use the toaster oven and use the instructions on Little Shavers web site. They turn out to be some pretty good blades. The ones I have had don't have any markings on them but seem to be pretty high carbon.
When I have retempered them to Rockwell 58/60 (I hope, just following Ricks advice), they sharpen and polish up pretty good.
They aren't Denny knives but it is fun playing with the stuff.
Bob

[Bartster]

i have made some knives from hacksaw blades made for an electric hacksaw, they make good knives just grind the teeth back just enough to knock the ridges off and just grind it down to what you want mount in a handle and sharpen it, i think these are the same blades the ron wells knives are made from.

bart


p.s the blades i used was about an 1 1/2 or 2" wide you may have to cut them in half, that is the hard part.

[xsailer]

Ct F/N, they are aprox .06 thick. x 3/4" and 1.0" wide.

[bill#1]

Xsailor, I was given several hacksaw blades and some other machine shop scraps..I have always been told that power hacksaw blades make excellent knives..so I dont think you went wrong with your investment,if you want more you should start rubbing elbows with people who work in machine shops..I was given a two foot blade with only 3-4 teeth knocked out of it. from my son, he happened to be in a machine shop and asked if he could have it...Then I happened on to several guys that work at the local machine shops and I spent several hours with those fellas, I came home with more than I could carry..I got several hacksaw blades and some thinner stainless that I can drill..and make some knife blanks..Keep scrounging you will find what you are looking for if you look in the right places...You mite want to check out some of the Knife making forums..like Blindhorseknives.com ..which has a link to Knife Forums.com Bill#1

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Thanks Bob I wasn't sure, I don't see why they wouldn't work if you just got rid of the teeth and put a bevel on them. if you plan to dry grind or cut it with a file or stones you might as well anneal it then harden after your done grinding and re temper them. Good luck with it, always fun to make your own tools.
Carl

[carver33]

I've made several knives from industrial hacksaw blades and prefer them over ones I have bought. I simply cut the shape with a dremel, roughed the edge with a belt sander then stones and strop from there. I simply kept them cool by dipping in water as I worked - no additional tempering or treatment.

I've used them on basswood, cherry and mahogany among others and they only require stropping with an occasional touchup on the sharpening. Here's a picture of on I made a few years ago - blade is about 1-1/4 inch.

Bill (in Aiken, SC)

[Thomp]

bob,

i have made small skinning knives for my brother in laws from the 2x18" yellow starrit power hacksaw blades, they are hard carbon steel from end to end,

scrape off the paint if you can to see if the teeth are just a strip of hard steel welded on the blade, if so i never found them worth messing with.,

in the votech 1996 i used a plasma cutter to rip cut the sterrit blades 1" and made sure the temper lost from that cut was used on the backbone of the knife,

i only used the cold grinding metal removal method (touch and dip) to shape the full tang and sharpen the blades, theres still several of my knives being used today so i must have did it right...

[SeaLeveler]

I bought a box of stuff at a auction and it had 2 knives in it that were made from jigsaw blades and they hold an edge for alot of carving in walnut,sassafras,and apple.Tony