caotropheus Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Would any one of you Gentleman consider 4140 steel to make a machete? I have a bit of 4140 rod and I was considering making a machete out of it... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Perhaps not an ideal choice of steel but certainly one that will work just fine! I have made a number of cutting tools from 4140 and they have all served me well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 How did you heat treat those tools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I usually quench in oil and then flame temper immediately. Oil flames at about 600 - 650 degrees fahrenheit. I dip in my quench oil and flame off several times. It is not too critical as these medium carbon steels will not have the extreme hardening that you might get with high carbon steels so they are not prone to cracking or bending as much as higher carbon steels are. You get a nice edge that will sharpen up well and has medium durability with quite good toughness... all good qualities for impact tools like axes and machetes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 how about using the 4140 for tooling and some 5160 (car spring) for the machete? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caotropheus Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 I want to experiment to make an hollow handle for the machete. I do not have any 5160 rod, but I have a 4140 rod. Since I do not like so much seams for hollow handles, I will just drill a bit of the 4140 rod to make the handle. If needed I will make adjustments of the hollow handle in the forge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.