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Becker-inspired knife to be made... bad news.
- Thread starter daizee
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 770
Cool... now you need to make a matching necker. 
daizee
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2009
- Messages
- 11,173
Bad news, folks, the BK-like chisel-whackadoohicky looks like it's done for.
We had some issues tuning the pre-heat in our quenchant. After a lot of frustration and some stupid stunts, I think we've finally got it sorted out, but the little beast-to-be chronicled herein was one of the guinea pigs, and it developed a longitudinal crack along the top shoulder of the front. I might try to harden it one last time when I've got ENOUGH HEAT _and_ the right quenchant AT the right temperature. But it also might be badly decarburized from so many heat baths...
Even with its crack, it might be a neat curiosity if the edge hardened sufficiently, but who knows what invisible damage might lie within.
Unfortunately I've managed to crack three awesome knifelings into which I put a lot of work. :-(
Here is its final picture. It will live on as a warning:
ENOUGH HEAT!
LOW VISCOSITY!
CALIBRATED PREHEAT!
-Daizee
BK-Razel-Dazel, RIP
We had some issues tuning the pre-heat in our quenchant. After a lot of frustration and some stupid stunts, I think we've finally got it sorted out, but the little beast-to-be chronicled herein was one of the guinea pigs, and it developed a longitudinal crack along the top shoulder of the front. I might try to harden it one last time when I've got ENOUGH HEAT _and_ the right quenchant AT the right temperature. But it also might be badly decarburized from so many heat baths...
Even with its crack, it might be a neat curiosity if the edge hardened sufficiently, but who knows what invisible damage might lie within.
Unfortunately I've managed to crack three awesome knifelings into which I put a lot of work. :-(
Here is its final picture. It will live on as a warning:
ENOUGH HEAT!
LOW VISCOSITY!
CALIBRATED PREHEAT!
-Daizee
BK-Razel-Dazel, RIP
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2003
- Messages
- 19,887
well, that's a terrible thing to have happen. probably best to use some real test dummies (harly worked on blanks) until everything is worked out 100% THEN make some more victims. now that you have a process wokred out, it should go even faster :>
plus you got that one to anneal, hammer on some, and try again :>
plus you got that one to anneal, hammer on some, and try again :>
daizee
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2009
- Messages
- 11,173
You're right, Bladite, more scrap tests are necessary - however it's important to test with scrap that resembles the mass of an actual knife, at least. We did a number of satisfactory tests with smaller scrap which cools fast enough in sub-standard quench setups, but that doesn't scale to a full-size knife, alas. And 3/16" steel is massive. Also, O1 is expensive...
At any rate, I got more O1 and some A2 (air-quenching!) and the not-yet-a-saga continues.
I was wondering if I could get that cracked corner really hot and hammer it back together. I don't know anything about forging, but do have a sweet anvil in the basement... If it arises from the ashes, you may rest assured that this thread will as well.
Another knifemaking session is scheduled for tonight.
-Daizee
At any rate, I got more O1 and some A2 (air-quenching!) and the not-yet-a-saga continues.
I was wondering if I could get that cracked corner really hot and hammer it back together. I don't know anything about forging, but do have a sweet anvil in the basement... If it arises from the ashes, you may rest assured that this thread will as well.
Another knifemaking session is scheduled for tonight.
-Daizee