Aus 8

[gull wing]

Thinner blades?
Looking to grind my Small Rat folder's blade a little thinner, making it a GENT'S folder. This will cut paper, cardboard, whittle green oak branches.
Do you see any problems with a slightly thinner blade?

 

[KennyB]

Thinner blade or thinner edge? A more acute edge will just wear more quickly, though with those materials it shouldn't matter. The blade thickness is already .095, which is pretty thin... I'd imagine you could thin it all the way down to .040-.050 and have it be fine for your intended uses, and be able to put a more suitable edge angle on too.

 

[fetzer85]

Go ahead but no matter how thin you make it the rat has a pretty good size handle, so I wouldn't ever call it a 'gentleman's folder'. But hey, do it and post some pics! :thumbup:

 

[Styg]

I don't think the phrase "Gentlemans folder" means anything anymore.

But I don't see why going thinner should matter, SAKs are pretty thin and do everything you described.

 

[gull wing]

Thank you! I could have used a better term than gent's knife.

 

[TriviaMonster]

I think it will hold up just fine. You could probably regrind it pretty thin.

2 things though, you can always remove metal, but can't add it back. Start removing little by little, being careful not to overheat the steel and ruin it's temper. I'm assuming you are using a power method.

Second thing, a really thin blade will actually require less effort if it'd sharp to cut. The only real enemy here is twisting force. Keep your forces in line with the spine and edge, no side to side, and you should be okay.