this might be to late but check with your local house painters or stain shops, alot of stain comes in 5 gal. buckets that are metal. i've got about 25 or so  i get from a local stain, paint shop.  

Hi Sven if you enjoy making it . not a waste at all

and will hold a edge better than what the scounderless few traded  to the first people here

wrought with no cutting edge in ..

enjoying what your doing .and learning as you go.

 

Heres one i did few years back people may say waste of time but i enjoyed it  fully knowing i could have used

any better steel i desired but chose a spike  .

Chris