Question for those that have been to GRS for the Knifemaker Engraving Class

[Tarl_cabot]

Ed, Larry Kemp, et.al. A question, when you were at the knifemakers engraving class, what steel did they recomend to use for practice plates? Will A36 aka "Structural Mild Steel or Structural Iron" suffice? Or did they recomend practicing on other higher alloy steels? I'm tooling up my engraving setup and wanted to get ahead of the game on practice plates...

Thanks in advance!

Mike Roesch
Chattanooga, TN

[Don Cowles]

Mike, the ones GRS provides are simple, low-carbon cold-rolled steel. They rust easily, but cut like 416, pretty much.

[lgrif]

As long as I have been an instructor there we have used the cold rolled that Don mentioned. Beginners have enough to learn without struggling with a practice plate material. It's very soft and works great for some things not so well for others. My last time out DJ had me test cut another plate material that is slightly harder. I liked it better but I'm accustomed to harder gun steels. In the end one must have some experience with a lot of different materials. If for no other reason than to know that some materials should never be cut.

[S. Dunn]

Mike,
There are serveral different practice plates that you will get in your tool packet while there.
1018 mild steel, key fobs that are 410 stainless(cuts like 416), brass, and copper plates. This gives you a good feel as to what might go on a knife as far as fittings.

A36 should cut very similar to 1018, an 416.
S. Dunn

[Tarl_cabot]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the information! This gives me something to consider as far as getting "set up" in practice plates.

Regards,

Mike Roesch
Chattanooga, TN - Bowie's Hammer-in BOUND!

[Jim Small]

It is good to know that there are a couple of GRS instructors lurking out there.
Thanks Lee
Jim