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I just ran across this video and found it had some great ideas.... not sure where he found a saw blade this thick but I bet they are out there just gathering dust somewhere.
I had several worn out saw blades made by Leitz, a German mfg. I called their Wisconsin office and learned that the plates were made from 1040. Can’t answer for other manufacturers, though.
Carbide tips. Its relatively low carbon, but apparently you can get it hardened to something like RC 56 or so. I made a decent shop knife from it, and a friend heat treated it. It holds a decent edge. I also made a couple marking knives. I wouldn’t use that steel for anything I prized highly.
Ryan,I've never even tried A2 Having a pro handle it seems more than entirely reasonable. In general though I've mostly started leaning harder towards ease of sharpening and simpler steels for most things (lathe tools mostly excepted...).
I've done a few things out of really old files (some sort of plain high carbon.. worked decently with out), some O1, a couple of springs, and a few other random similar bits. But that's about it... and that's been a while.
I have a bunch of planer blades that I'd like to know what they are... they seem very thoroughly through hardened (yes I can grind them.. but not quickly or easily). Seem to hold temper pretty well even when I mess up and get them a bit hot and they work really really well for lathe scrapers and yard knives and the like.
I watched the video last night after I made my previous post. I can see how the metal process would be fun.