In article ,
"Ed Edelenbos" wrote:

What sort of stock is good to use for homemade tools?

On the low but effective for mini-tools end of the spectrum, concrete
nails - nice, if small, hardened steel. Cheap.

Moving up to the good stuff, metalworking lathe tool bit stock -
anywhere form 3/16 to 3/4 square, some non-square shapes (including
parting tool style), nice high speed steel, fairly inexpensive.

From the same suppliers, (MSC, Enco, McMaster-carr etc.) drill rod and
flat stock in various grades of tool steel, either pre-hardened or
annealed (and then you need to do heat treating - stick to W1 or O1 or
O2 for that at home).

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