Rebar knife

My second rebar knife, it's tough stuff but you still can't seem to harden it!
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[@azuritet3]

People say that rebar is bad steel, but that just means it's the worst of the best, which is still not bad. Humans have been using crap steel for hundreds of years.

[@bc65925]

Gotta love the tenacity of that spider, walking right down the edge at 19:23. Someone who is very new or someone who has not tried to forge on a preset line can not fully appreciate what you have done there. Maybe pick up a piece of round bar and hammer in a blade, but to do it and keep it in line with the two straight lines on the rebar that there is talent.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Is rebar the best steel? Not even close. Is it fun to work with? Absolutely.

[@Z3n1tHL0rD]

Hundreds of years ago to make a steel higher in carbon, saw dust or charcoal was hammered into the steel when it was red hot, when in college we used the practice of placing the mild steel pieces to be hardened in a steel box full of charcoal and heating it up to around 1400 degrees for a few hours

[@stokkelandsmia1631]

hey even the spider inspects the knife in the end :D

[@CrispyBacon11]

Very inspirational, thanks for the video!

[@garyhuston]

My pleasure!

[@swdweeb]

Reading the comments I'll say that for those of us that can't hammer a straight line, it is brilliant. Nice job.

[@mariovergara727]

The knife is so beautiful, congratulations!

[@krisley5178]

Fun project. Well done Sir!

[@jedistacker1418]

That’s really a nice knife. Great work

[@maticsega3311]

I like this guy he seems nice

[@sydurgraham7760]

Beautiful work, mate. To the people commenting, "rEbAr n0T g0oD 4 kNiVEs!!!1!11!!!" No. Shit. He's just making a mess-around project. It's still a beautiful knife that "would keeeel" as that guy on the show says.

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Well done, I have never made a knife as I don't have any good steel, but I do have some old rebar around here. I live your style, thank you for showing me this video, I appreciate it....

[@MrSIXGUNZ]

i really love a deep blade on a knife and you hit it right on the spot for a perfect knife !! blessings,

[@jamesiversen42]

Great looking dagger, also watched your rams head cane topper, also fantastic. I am inspired to try them both. Thank you!

[@garyhuston]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Palehorse1017]

If you can find the manufacturer's marks (numbers and letters), you can usually find information about it online. A lot of the rebar here in the States is made from recycled train rail and is easily hardened with a water quench.

[@Lamthesavender]

Great to see another video from you sir! Started about 4 years ago after watching a few of your videos. Still using the rebar tongs i made after watching your tong video!

[@GWIRailroad]

Very well done Gary!! Wayne

[@user-vg1bk9ux6r]

Try a deferential quench in water..... out here in India local blacksmiths make billhooks out of this stuff..... it won't get as hard as carbon steel but will be better than an oil quench....

[@janmorse6948]

Enjoyed the knife project Gary. I have hammered some knives from questionable materials several times, and being a Glass half Full sort of guy, I can tell you this....a knife that wont hold an edge long has one great quality....it re-sharpens fast!

[@andrewgrossman7]

Hi gary! Long time viewer and subscriber. Just wanted to let you know this video has aged well into 2024! still love it. Hope you are doing well

[@garyhuston]

Thanks!

[@robertdees2179]

Nice work.keep going

[@EgTFortune]

Smart work with the seam, using it as a guide i havent thought of that one!

[@jamesbailey6124]

From what I've done in my past with rebar is when you are cooling it in the oil you dip it for 30 seconds you bring it out of the oil for 30 seconds back in the oil for 30 seconds do this until it is cool it should Harden to the same hardness as your file. This is how I made chisels from rebar when I was in high school also I quite enjoyed the knife it looks very useful and I do like the shape of the blade I use it for carving up my dear as a hunting knife and it also goes well when fleshing out the skin.

[@kitsnap1228]

What's the difference with a simple normal oil quench?

[@faisalfaixal2376]

how like dipping in 30sec and taking it out for 30sec then dipping again right?

[@ojsimps701]

Wow as a labourer we chuck tons of that in skips amazing I never knew to make a knife

[@scarface-39]

Neat knife! !!

[@MassachusettsTrainVideos1136]

Absolutely beautiful well done I definitely have to make something like this. You have just earned a new subscriber because of this great video.

[@garyhuston]

Thanks and welcome

[@robgoose8126]

Goodness that's a whopping huge anvil.

[@rickguidos6208]

That'll squish TWO roadrunners at the same time.

[@truckerdude9172]

@@rickguidos6208 Straight from the ACME warehouse

[@jma5177]

Good job 👏👏👏

[@infraprods]

Mama Spider: "Itsy!!! you get away from that fire god's temple right now!!!" Itsy: "C'mon Mom, you never let me do anything @#$%"

[@johnmccanntruth]

Getting that spine in line was really nice, I’d think that would be rather difficult. It might serve you well as a box, package opener for a good while. Might need the occasional sharpening, but it looks good!

[@dickstockford753]

Rubbing a little chalk onto your file will decrease the metal bits that cause scoring.

[@Shadeskast]

The old skinners would really enjoy that shape. Rebar always beats my arm up when I’m messing with it.

[@yotamonster]

Look at the size of the anvil on that guy!

[@prendefuego6444]

Quedo hermoso!

[@MusicalBox]

That spider needs a name. I propose : Mr Bean :)

[@jg393]

The nicholson I picked up today was doing the same thing!

[@SeaWasp]

I appreciate you're displaying the most important OSHA sticker there exists, from AvE

[@franknash7067]

Next rebar knife try super quench or soapy water for the quench. I think the oil is too easy a quench for that low carbon.

[@jayrenz111]

Rebar is a water quench steel

[@jayrenz111]

I second that

[@danieldavidson5447]

Nice Videos!

[@garyhuston]

Thanks.

[@brianjohnston7855]

I wanted to comment on your last video but couldn't somehow get on line. Going by the threaded end on your rod, I suggest that you're using high tensile pre-stressing cable as used in pre-stressed concrete construction.

[@markc1234golf]

Nice to see you're an AvE fan Gary........!

[@johnt.chambers4204]

Nice looking Blade. I have never tried making one from rebar. I have used it to make tongs and such but that is about all. Like you said it is not the easiest metal to work with. You might try chalking your file. It may help keep it from picking up particles from the metal. Also, as somebody else has already suggested try quenching with water.

[@S_h_e_n_______]

wow thank tyou soo much i make this and i has a great knife ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@WatcherintheDark69]

I have seen a lot of blacksmiths make knives from rebar. I could understand if it was mild steel like a railroad spike, but an average piece of rebar is usually carbon steel and very good for forging. Though I'm not sure of the metal types used in the UK for rebar would be.

[@beeforge4260]

The knife looks great really actually attractive knife. I think most people that talk about rebar being rubbish don't actually know why they're saying it's rubbish they just call it rubbish. What makes rebar rubbish is the inconsistency of the elements in the bar. The first inch could have 3% carbon and no more for another 8 ft. Trust it for a higher carbon content and it will be mild. Trust it for mild and it could crack.

[@aussie.bushcraftsurvival9606]

I've heard that that steel is very similar to 1095 and. Is better hardened with water quench . Don't suppose you would give it go with water quench to see if it hardens better , with another bit of that bar ? :) just asking ??? I love your pet spider , mine is a red back ! :)

[@itswift]

I've heard that rubbing chalkboard chalk on files prevents them from loading up, but I've never tried it with a decent file, only the garbage ones....it seems to help. Also heard that the new Nicholsons are not as nice as the older ones.

[@bc65925]

It works with goodern's also.

[@777damage777]

Some steels water harden some air harden and some oil harden your have to see which one would work best for rebar I'm not really sure quite off hand.

[@Quartzkensai]

777damage777 there generally not enough carbon to harden rebar, so you have to first carburize the steel before you can quench and temper the steel

[@coreycline6858]

That things sweet! It'd be an awesome skinning if it'll keep an edge.🤞

[@johnniecameron8829]

The rebar I have used is also TOUGH STUFF ,,,might make good punches,chisels,etc.

[@user-jj7or6zb9p]

Were good 👍

[@JohnSmith-ki2eq]

The real problem with rebar is that it's not a consistent product, one batch might have a high carbon content and the next will be little better than mild steel, it's whatever scrap they throw in the melting pot that day, you just have to do a spark test before you forge with it.

[@messylaura]

its a bit hit and miss with rebar, best thing to do if you want a hardened edge on rebar is to do a hardening test on the piece you have at the time, see if you can get it hard using oil or water (leave it!!) have you tried quenching it in cold wet spinach leaves?

[@scottmccarroll2618]

I have found if you water quench it you can use it for stone mason chisels not saying it’s good knife steel

[@user-xy4dg5og8k]

Strong brine quench at high temp . Temper in the oven at 400 degrees f for 2 hours.

[@etanateixeira3045]

👍👍👍

[@6Sally5]

The thumbnail picture made it look to me like this was a small knife…probably because of the lanyard. With that in mind, I might try to make a small version of this using 1/2” rebar. Nice video and cute little anvil pet! 🕷

[@garyhuston]

It lends itself quite nicely to made smaller.

[@martinalfredoburcherivoet6454]

Sería ideal hacer ese diseño con damasco de cable.

[@SL-ez7qn]

Nice knife. Would like to know how well it holds its edge. I’ve used rebar to make centre punches and hardened them by quenching in water. Makes a good punch for general use on mild steel.

[@garyhuston]

It has held its edge well as it doesn’t get used! I’m guessing that it will be like the punches, hold an edge for a little while but not for ever.

[@matttaimuty5397]

Try hardening it in ice water or super quench. It just might get hard enough.

[@user-jj7or6zb9p]

Молодцы 👍👍👍

[@rigidironworks9834]

Gary, did you rework the finish after you recorded the video ? I ask because in the video the knife has a polished finish but in the photo here on KZbin, as well as photo on Instagram, it looks like a satin finish.

[@garyhuston]

No, I think it’s just the lighting

[@legitbaseball9937]

Like the vids

[@renemontiel6685]

Muy bonito

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

Brand New to smithing. What's the reason behind brushing the steel after you take it off the heat?

[@garyhuston]

To remove scale and impurities to stop them being forged back into the parent steel.

[@MrBAchompBAchomp]

@@garyhuston I'm going to assume this is good practice I should be incorporating into my forging thank you

[@bekbek712]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@EgTFortune]

When working with rebar, have you tried to water quench for around 2 seconds, then to use a torch and get an edge quench in oil? I have heard alot of different things with rebar, im currently using this method and it seems to harden well, curious to your take.

[@EgTFortune]

The main thing I have heard with rebar and hardening is not to use oil, but to use water (unless going for an edge)

[@tomfarrow710]

Looks good, and yes rebar is tough and difficult to forge. Cheap but not that good

[@anglingaquatics4107]

Would make a good bush knife with a paracord handle

[@user-uo3qd7rp4m]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@claytongraybill9370]

Chalk your file when new it will help from getting gaulds

[@jacedab3163]

how thick is the rebar that you are using? I am going to make one in the summer but I need to know the thickness of the rebar so that i can buy a good one to forge a knife with.

[@garyhuston]

¾”

[@jacedab3163]

@@garyhuston can you awnser in mm Please? Im swedish so i want an awnser in mm

[@garyhuston]

@@jacedab3163 20mm

[@jacedab3163]

@@garyhuston thank you very much

[@xgu4642]

Just a question because of curiosity can you harden metal such as rebar by layering the blade but rebar would seem incredibly hard to layer metal.

[@garyhuston]

I have no idea, but why would you want to? If you want hard use good steel!

[@xgu4642]

@@garyhuston yeah makes sense I’m just starting out and really don’t know what steel works and what doesn’t and where to obtain it thanks for the tip

[@garyhuston]

Just google it, people agonize over it but it’s so easy to find out what to use and where to find it since the internet was invented!

[@kreynolds1123]

Think you can carbonize and case harden the blade?

[@garyhuston]

Even if I could I wouldn’t bother, it’s hard enough to stab someone as it is!

[@azrael923]

When making a blade would you temper or harden after or before you sharpen and polish

[@garyhuston]

Before

[@azrael923]

Thankyou

[@azrael923]

Btw love your videos

[@renemontiel6685]

Exelente

[@glennwiebe5128]

Gary, you might have tried to use a water quench. Although rebar varies wildly in its composition, there often is just enough carbon to harden. The oil quench you used obviously wasn't aggressive enough. You could even make your own "Super Quench" with house hold ingredients. If that doesn't work then it's good only for garden stakes. One of the reasons it was so tough to work is that it may have had significant amounts of silicone in it. Chromium also makes it hard to work but no one would even use such an expensive additive for rebar. Good to see you forging again!

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Glenn Wiebe Chromium is widely used in rebar for concrete works around saltwater.... pick up a piece with American markings and third marking down is “SS” than is is Stainless Steel (A955), if the marking is “CS” than it is low carbon Chromium Steel (A1035); unlike the typical S or W which will have no chromium...... for those of you buying in “Metric Land” you can find the guides for what the rebar markings mean on the internet as well as I did for the markings here in the USA....

[@jdirthead]

Since all I know about forging is what I see on youtube let me ask you if case hardening would work for a knife?

[@garyhuston]

it would but not worth the effort im my opinion.

[@jdirthead]

@@garyhuston Thank you

[@Coleman77]

Do not let a comment stop all work to answer your question: search until you find all the answers. Case hardening = hardened outer, softer inside

[@agaralpha1842]

what brand of the file you using

[@garyhuston]

Nickleson

[@mortem-tyrannis]

You did a fine job sir, as far as rebar it's not rubbish as reinforcement, It's rubbish for making knives just like railroad spikes too low in carbon. It's mild steel mostly unknown makeup, it has it uses just not for knives. But don't get me wrong in a pinch making something for self-defense with limited resources rebar will do.

[@dadegroot]

Most rebar / reo tends to top out at 0.38% carbon, and thus doesn't harden to any real extent.

[@dadegroot]

Having said that, it's great stuff for general smithing work, hooks, brackets, etc Just nothing that actually has to hold an edge.

[@MJ-wh1ny]

David de Groot yep, this is what I want to ask. Well done indeed, but the edge I guess doesnt hold the sharpeness.

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

David de Groot The problem with working with scrap rebar, unless you really know what you are doing, is that you pick it up and don’t know what is in your hand... there are different types, including rail, carbon and stainless steal varieties, and then there are different grades. If you don’t have the rebar piece with the markings, and you aren’t well versed (like most people with a backyard forge), than you don’t have a clue as to what you’re beating on, or if the item being made will be of the quality you want for what you are making... This guy keeps saying it’s tough stuff, maybe re is working with a high grade rail steel... it doesn’t sound like he knows... he didn’t say if there were markings before pounding on it, so he probably doesn’t and without hearing/seeing the rebar codes I can’t figure it out (especially from here)...

[@jasonanderson3089]

Was wondering if you’d seen the spider 🕷 sure enough you did

[@joseedgardodiaz5636]

Hola. falicitaciones

[@danielkeal8795]

Rebar is made of scrap but normally higher end scrap and it still has to meat standers I can't remember properly if there's 5 or 7 different grades of it

[@garyhuston]

Seven as I recall

[@johnt.chambers4204]

Rebar is usually graded as 33 through 40 and is pretty low carbon even in the better grades. They do make one with higher carbon called black bar. I have never used it, but I am told it has a tendency to crack as you work it.

[@tropifiori]

It’s a pretty knife. Pity it is low carbon steel. Is it possible to case harden a knife???

[@garyhuston]

Yes, but why bother? It’s not going to get used!

[@fabresehurlock-brooks8205]

Used water to quench

[@sd0384]

Could it be possible to make a spear head out of rebarb?

[@garyhuston]

of course.

[@stormyeffects4795]

My wrist hurts just watching this. I do blacksmithing all the time (I’m still learning) and it really hurts my wrist to hold a hammer. If I can, I have someone else help me when it comes to moving the bulk of the metal.

[@faisalfaixal2376]

hold the thumb differently like around it from bottom not just simply grabing it

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Stormy Effects The Japanese style uses certain hammers in a different way and let the weight of the hammer do most of the work. Whereas Europeans and Americans try and beat the metal into submission, the Japanese use a hammer (can’t remember it might be called dog head or dog face hammer) and lift the hammer and almost let gravity do all the work.... would definitely be easier on your wrists, I’m betting if you search KZbin hard enough you’ll find something on it, maybe get/make yourself the hammer they use and give it a try.....

[@stormyeffects4795]

@@lewiswereb8994 I’ve learned a lot since then. I was swinging the hammer totally wrong. I can now swing a hammer properly and move metal effectively

[@KopiNonton]

Wow... He was holding the hot iron without gloves...

[@EgTFortune]

Some people are built different , I know on 2ft of rebar my coal forge gets way too hot lol , I'm often burning holes in my gloves

[@annotten7413]

You should have used water to harden it - there are a few YT videos out there on this and rebar can definitely be hardened

[@danielcrawford7315]

Lol view 911 like 119. Lol mirror numbers. Ok so I'm a nutt. All in all it turned out rather nice. Especially given it was rebar. Just a thought, have you tryed a water quenching that peice? Mat try it for a slightly harder bit of edge idk could be wrong too. Thanks for sharing this it's a neat project. If nothing else itll open a box or letter good enough 🙏Blessings abundant Crawford out, 🧙‍♂️

[@joseedgar2781]

Hola. Muy bueno. Por favor dinos que numero de hierro es 14 o 16 ?

[@garyhuston]

you asked that before and i still don't know what that means! it's just rebar.

[@basuraeterna]

@@garyhuston I think he asked about the iron thickness. Here in Latin America we ask by its measure, for example: 8, 10, 12, etc I think there can be 1 1/4, 1/12, etc Regards!

[@pbleil]

19:00 Boris the Spider

[@samuelbodhaine2830]

My dad and grandpa say that the only way to use a file that will keep it good for a long time is to only use it as a push stroke, never go forward and backward, only forward.

[@garyhuston]

That’s because they are so old that files in their day were shit metal! Files now are much better and can go both ways!

[@cotygelowitz8514]

​@@garyhuston This!

[@garyhuston]

@@cotygelowitz8514 this what?

[@cotygelowitz8514]

@@garyhuston I was agreeing that files are being made far better now than they were even just 20 years ago

[@garyhuston]

@@cotygelowitz8514 oh, ok. 😊

[@darrylfitzys8632]

Gary’s made it to the big time, he doesn’t show us horses anymore which is what made him popular. Now he’s a product reviewer so he can get free stuff from manufacturers.

[@Sedoj-jw1mk]

После сборки доработать напильником 🤔🤔🤔😁

[@user-oh6co6dc6k]

Рукоять нужно было сделать облегченной-просверлить сверлом 10-12 мм

[@garyhuston]

Why?

[@user-xy4dg5og8k]

My steak knives are forged from rebar!

[@user-bt3ng4in6t]

С рукоятью из оленьего рога нож хороший и лёгкий ты сделал,а этот только на полку положить.