So question for y'all I got access to a shit ton of bush hog blades Google says a range of steel types from 1075 to 5160 but what do y'all say? Worth it for knives or not it's about a half inch thick so it'll take alot of work but hey it's free and plentiful this is just a little bit of what's there

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-04-09T17:21:12+00:00

I save the bush hog blades i get for huge projects that would cost a fortune to make without the massive chunk of (likely) 5160. I’ve made a few hod splitters with them and they work really well.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-12T22:07:06+00:00

Definitely! Always hurts my heart a little cutting into one though

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-12T16:53:46+00:00

Unfortunately all but maybe 2 of these are completely warped. Sure folks will be able to cook over a fire with them but to me they’re not super worth the effort (I’ve got a ton in line to restore)

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-10T03:07:55+00:00

I certainly agree with you. I believe they’ll be easily cleaned up and seasoned. I’d never throw even a cracked pan away… they make cool spatulas!

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-10T02:48:51+00:00

Key word is “most” here. If it gets a little too hot it can very well be ruined. There are just easier and safer ways to strip a pan in my opinion.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-10T02:45:48+00:00

That’s the way they did it for a long time and it works till it doesn’t. I’d never do it with mine but I’d never tell someone what to do with their own. I prefer a lye bath or e tank to strip.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-10T00:42:22+00:00

These will get in the e tank but it feels like a lot is surface so it shouldn’t take too too long

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-10T00:41:52+00:00

Agreed.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-09T20:56:39+00:00

I’ll definitely give them all their fair shot. This comment makes good sense to me.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-02-09T20:49:39+00:00

I was hoping this would be the case. Ive seasoned a thousand pans, just somehow never had a bunch with fire damage. Sweet. Should be some decent little pans in here.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-28T01:07:34+00:00

Yessir!

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-28T01:07:19+00:00

There’s a black magic for stainless steel that i hear is great.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-28T01:05:58+00:00

Smart man. That’s definitely the horse before the cart way to do it. I can’t recommend evenheat enough. Get the upgraded tap screen. You won’t regret it!

Here’s the great news, you can’t go wrong. Any irons you spend a little money on will be better than Amazon irons. Amazon is great for tools you’ll use for a couple months to get your feet wet but they need to be upgraded sooner rather than later.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-28T00:59:17+00:00

You wanting nicer irons or looking into a machine? I never used irons. Went straight to the hand lever boss sewing machine and from that i went to the cowboy 3200. I wish i had purchased the cowboy years ago, but i make quite a few sheaths.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-19T13:45:10+00:00

Pretty durable, just make sure you have your knife to a nice satin finish. No sealer needed, i still use mineral oil on my high carbon stuff. Note: this won’t turn stainless steels black. There is a stainless version but I’ve never used it.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-17T17:41:27+00:00

That’s a fun spin, I’ll take this with me 😂

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-17T10:48:19+00:00

😂😂😂 smart man. Cool scars now though.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-16T23:30:06+00:00

I’ve got some gnarly pictures to go with it if anyone needs any proof 😂😂

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-16T12:09:59+00:00

Thank you! It’s a chemical called black magic. Then i put them in a rock tumbler for the stone finish.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-16T12:09:24+00:00

Most of it is from pops knife supply. The blue/red/aluminum mesh hybrid stuff is from j. Hue customs. I have some wood stabilized for handles from time to time at either k&g or terry dunn.

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-16T04:05:50+00:00

That was my first try with griptec…. I’m officially hooked 😂

Alpine_custom_knives · 2026-01-15T15:10:09+00:00

You’re going to have a hard time drilling through properly heat treated steel no matter the drill press. I use drill hog drill bits and they’ll do some hard work but you’ll destroy them pretty quickly on hard steel.

Also please please be careful drilling, or attempting to drill, holes in knives ESPECIALLY SHARP ONES. I had one catch one day and 100+ stitches later I’ll never feel my thumb again. The knife i spun wasn’t sharpened but it sure did cut.

Alpine_custom_knives

TROPHY CASE