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baby Ganga vs. greasewood
- Thread starter fearn
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2001
- Messages
- 4,238
Received Fearn's Ganga Ram this evening and gave it a quick etch with ferric chloride to see the hardened zone. It has a definite hardened edge. A file would cut, but you could tell it was hardened. I'd love to see a larger hardened area, but this blade will probably outlast us all. The steel is hard past the dark part, but hardest where it's dark. I think the biggest problem is edge geometry. It's pretty thin, flat on one side and slightly hollow ground on the other. Tomorrow evening, I'll put a convex edge on it, polish it back up, and the true test will be using it.
Steve
Steve
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Got the ganga back today from Steve. It's quite a pretty bit of work. Thanks!
A brief test cut (on a piece of fig wood) shows that it cuts about the same as it used to, maybe a little more shallow. And it's pretty sharp, although not quite as sharp as it was with the old, thin edge. not necessarily a problem, as I'm not planning on shaving with it.
Hopefully I'll get to feed it some burned chamise in the next few days. That's the real test.
F
A brief test cut (on a piece of fig wood) shows that it cuts about the same as it used to, maybe a little more shallow. And it's pretty sharp, although not quite as sharp as it was with the old, thin edge. not necessarily a problem, as I'm not planning on shaving with it.
Hopefully I'll get to feed it some burned chamise in the next few days. That's the real test.
F
I'm surprised that it's not as sharp as before. I shaved a spot on the back of my hand with it.
Hi Steve,
I'll try shaving. I actually tried cutting a thin piece of paper and had trouble, and that might be a function of the blade geometry rather than the sharpness. Good point.
I already think I like the new edge better, and if it improves its performance as a chopper, that's ideal.
F
I'll try shaving. I actually tried cutting a thin piece of paper and had trouble, and that might be a function of the blade geometry rather than the sharpness. Good point.
I already think I like the new edge better, and if it improves its performance as a chopper, that's ideal.
F
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,079
Try it on a zombie...: )
'Round here, Greenwoods, a zombie contains about 4 ounces of alcohol (including Baccardi 151), and I'm pretty sure they don't want me chopping one in the bar. Probably they'd be pretty upset if I took a khukuri in with me. 
BTW Steve, yes it does shave, so it's sharp enough. Just won't cut a paper receipt held loosely.
F
BTW Steve, yes it does shave, so it's sharp enough. Just won't cut a paper receipt held loosely.
F
Actually, it wasn't chamise, at least not yet. Today, I spent about 4-5 hours on a weeding crew, cutting broom. The work was a mix of sawing and chopping, and the baby ganga got a workout. At the end, it was still sharp, even on the tip, which I had to stick into the ground a number of times in order to use the saw (all weeding took place on a slidey, 30 degree hill. The blade got laid where I could). While I was working, I gave it a touchup with the chakma once. When I got home, the edge needed cleaning and touchup, but it was still pretty sharp.
So yes, I'd say Steve's edge is definitely very functional. Until I go up against fire-hardened chamise, I can't give it The Test, but right now, it's doing well.
F
So yes, I'd say Steve's edge is definitely very functional. Until I go up against fire-hardened chamise, I can't give it The Test, but right now, it's doing well.
F
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