Bent Steel Help

[Cypress Creek Knives]

I am in the process of making my first knife and I just realized that the steel is a little bent. It is 1095 if that matters any. I can't tell its bent until I lay it flat on the table. Is this going to affect my knife in the long run. Is there any way I can straighten this out. I have read the thread about the knife warping during heat treat. Should I correct the knife like that. Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks.

Blade handle


Spine of knife


Tip of knife


Knife

 

[A.McPherson]

just bend it in the opposite direction in small incriments, checking after each bend to check on your progress. it shouldnt need any heat to fix it if it's annealed already. just don't get over exuberant right off the bat and bend it too much... take it slow and check it often!

 

[RSKT]

Something like that, with very minor warp, can be easily fixed. I have an ASO from harbor freight that I use for minor warp like that. ASO= Anvil Shaped Object. My good anvil is in a separate part of the workshop, and this little cast iron deal works for these types of tasks. I give light taps with a hammer to flatten it completely. Then I HT. If the warp occurs during HT, don't worry about it until after the second temper. Then I use a couple pieces of 5160 stock, about 14" long with quarters and a clamp. Counter-bend it a bit and re-temper. It takes some finesse, but you'll learn how much to counterbend and where to place your quarter stacks with experience. Hope that helps.

Also, if it was just the tip warp and the tang was fine, grinding your taper would eliminate that.

Last thing: WEAR SHOES IN YOUR SHOP!!! You don't want something hot and/or sharp going through your foot.

 

[Cypress Creek Knives]

Thanks for the information. Don't worry, I always wear shoes in the shop. I was done for the night and heading inside. I figured someone would mention that but I had no idea it would be on the second post 😄

 

[RSKT]

If I had a dollar for every time a knife landed pointy end down on my boots, I'd be rich. It's so easy to get hurt making knives.

 

[synthesist]

*************ASO*************

That's hilarious. Anvil Shaped Object from Harbor Freight.

Everyone picks on poor HF. I've found that many things they sell are just fine for the price. That said being a informed consumer is required. I'm in the market for a MIG welder and I wouldn't buy one there, although I've used one and it worked fine. Same goes for their welding helmets. Used one and it worked then I tried a Miller Digital Elite. There was quite a difference as you might expect. Wearing shoes in the shop and garage is pretty much a rule for me. I hate stubbed toes and cringe at the idea of a pointy object aimed at my instep.

BTW I do own an ASO from HF. I gave it to my wife to use for some of her jewelry and beading stuff. Seems to work just fine for her.

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel

 

[RSKT]

Corey, I wish I could lay claim to "ASO". Alas, it was coined long before I started banging steel by blade and blacksmiths with far more salt than me. The HF deals are cast iron. They don't have the same qualities a "real" anvil made of hardened steel has. But are still useful for some tasks. I bought it before I had even a little bit of a clue