Burnishers

Rusty

Rusty

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Mar 8, 1999
Messages
8,911
Someone mentioned steels that weren't ridged, but all I remember ever seeing were round, ridged or someway textured. None flat and smooth. Have been considering getting a single sided flat file maybe 6" long - not counting the tail, if I could find one with a very fine cut on one side and smooth on the backside, rounding the edges on a sander or grinder, and epoxying on a handle. That way I'd have a steel of reasonable size to use at home. Maybe even make a smaller one that'd fit into the sheath somehow.

Anybody know of any flat smooth steels available without me having to do a homemade version?
 
Rusty, Rajors Edge sells two versions of a smooth steel, both are round. I have not seen a flat smooth steel in awhile.

Adam Sharp :

http://www.nt.net/~admclean/Index.htm

sell the Rajor's edge equipment.

-Cliff

[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 21 April 1999).]
 
Just what I was going to ask you.

This would have three purposes. 1) Keeping fingers further from blade and reducing the chance of cutting yourself; 2) Wider and heavier to keep the chakma flat against the edge so it didn't skip going over bulges and gouges; 3) Not ordinarily used for, but capable of being used with greater pressure to force really big dents back into place or to speed up the process if needed.


Maybe four or five inches long ( the steel portion ), 3/4" to 1" wide and three to four inches for the handles. This would be a home or shop or truck tool. I do worry that something that large and with too much handle leverage might be an invitation to use too much muscle, but would rather use a big one with light to moderate pressure than try to use a small one too hard. So what would these cost, roughly?

Oh yeah, since no-one else seems to have them, maybe this could be an accessory you could push to non-khuk knife knuts.


[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 21 April 1999).]
 
Hi Rusty:

Per your specs my guess is about ten bucks with wood handle. How thick would you want it?

Uncle Bill
 
One eigth inch thickness, or whatever extra thickness needed depending on size to keep flom flexing. Hmm... or maybe it should flex to keep from too much pressure being applied. I'm just guessing. And maybe it would be worth it to bring in 7 or 8" overall and a 10 or 12" overall. I want the 7 to 8", but you might take both sizes to a knife show and get comments. Check prices for commercially made steels. If you sold little one for $15 and bigger for $20, might sell quite well.
 
Let us know if you're going to offer anything like that. I'll buy one.
Mike
 
Let's keep this post up for a week and see what sort of response we get. If we get a few takers we'll try a dozen or so and see how they work.

Uncle Bill
 
Hi Rusty,

I have used both smooth and ribbed steels. The ribbed steels are designed to remove metal as well as realign the edge. It puts a (too) rough edge on my ATS 34 knives. I prefer the smooth ones.

1) What about a guard on the steel to help keep you hands away from from the edge. This could be as simple as a notch cut out in the steel.

2) The dimmesions you give seem good for the size of steel you propose. I was wondering if a thinner steel might be better to follow the curves of the khukuri.

3) How hard should the steel be? A steel softer than the blade would be scratched by the blade but still be capable of re-aligning the edge. A harder steel will abrade the blade somewhat.

I would like to get one also. Would it come with a lifetime warrenty.

Will
 
I was thinking of a guard too. Having a longer chakma could lead to paying less attention since you know you've got the extra safety cushion.

On the other questions you have, I think I'm going to stay quiet on something I don't know much about ( I know, I know, that never stopped me before, but I have to keep you guys on your toes, now... ).

((edit - Wonder if the kamis would make one side flat and one side half round, or if it would be more trouble than it's worth? Arghhh, a nice simple idea, next thing we'll have it with more attachments than a SwissChamp SAK. And /// I'M - ME \\\ the one doing it!!!

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 21 April 1999).]
 
Lee Valley Tools, a supplier of high-end woodworking tools and supplies, has an 11-inch burnisher (including handle) for about $20USD. It's brightly polished, Rc 62-64, and is kinda egg-shaped in cross section. It's designed to put the burr on cabinet scrapers. You can see it by going to their website (leevalley.com), and doing a search on "burnisher".
 
Recently, I used the H.I. burnisher and a butcher's steel to repair my Mad Dog ATAK 2 (I did not drop this one). The H.I. burnisher was scratched by the ATAK 2 and takes longer than the butcher steel. The butcher steel appears to be harder. The H.I. burnisher is much more controllable and I liked the flat surface better.

I think the burnisher should be as hard as possible. Note toughness is not an issue here.

Will
 
Will :

think the burnisher should be as hard as possible. Note toughness is not an issue here.
Click to expand...

I would agree if you are just going to use it as a burnisher.

Bill, in Nepal are the chakmas used for anything else besides burnishing?

-Cliff
 
Cliff, for substitute punch and small prying jobs. From feel I think the chakma is about the same hardness as the edge of the big blade and I think that's the way the kamis want it.

Uncle Bill
 
That makes sense Bill, considering the khukuri is the most popular knives in the kami's neck of the woods.

I was thinking of using my burnisher on all my blades. Some are harder than your khukuri's some are not.

Anyone else want a large flat burnisher?

Will
 
Will, yes. I was thinking that an excellent way to get one would be to just order a Janawar. The Burnisher with that I think is 12" inches. Just have the Kami's to a really fast quench on that and get it to a really high hardness.

I would like to get one and put it under the sign on my lab door that reads "Here be Dragons". I could then put "Here be the Dragon Killer" right underneath it.

-Cliff
 
I wonder what the size of the "little" knife's gonna be on the Janawar. Must be a good sized bowie
smile.gif


Cliff, how about "In case of Dragons, break glass"

------------------
No, I was never lost. But I was mighty bewildered one time for three days.

--- Daniel Boone
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top