Had a customer bring in a railroad spike last tuesday asking me to make him a chef knife

I told him railroad steel is fine for a camp knife but not for kitchen work, and he got a little defensive about it. Has anyone else had people insist on using material that's clearly wrong for the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

mark_hernandez126d ago

1095 steel at 58-60 Rockwell is what I'd use for a kitchen knife, not mystery metal from a railroad. That spike has unknown carbon content and could have stress cracks from being hammered. I've had guys bring in old saw blades wanting hunting knives made out of them too, always a pain to explain why it's a bad idea.

faith_thomas5d ago

Dealing with customers who get defensive about their materials is always rough. It puts you in an awkward spot where you're trying to help but they take it as an insult to their idea. Have you had any luck getting through to him since, or did he walk out?