Carbide platen...?

[Matthew Gregory]

Discussion has come up in certain circles after seeing nifty things at Blade Show, such as the trick attachment that Travis Weurtz and Hardcore released. The discussion was about getting a piece of carbide to mount instead of pyroceramic glass to keep your platen flat and reduce drag.

Overkill? Perhaps. BUT, as I do the math, I've probably spent upwards near $200 or so on replacement pyroceramic glass over the years - not that this is a large sum, mind you, however...

...if we could get a piece of carbide, say 2" wide, 8" long, and maybe 1/8" thick, with 1/8" radii already shaped on the sides, wouldn't that be nifty?

Am I the only jerk that thinks this is a cool idea?

I've got a call in to a guy that owns a business dealing exclusively with stuff like this, and he's going to tell me how farcical (read: expensive) my outlandish idea is. I'm holding out hope that it's not too expensive...

Anyone else think this isn't a bad idea?

 

[DavidHoback]

I was literally JUST thinking about this the last few days. And I did a considerable amount of searching. The cost for a piece 2"x8" is pretty astronomical! I'm actually looking for a company in China to buy it from, as it's MUCH cheaper! The problem is the US does not make it. It's almost 100% sourced from China, by the US. So trying to buy from a US company is an effort in futility. There is a CONSIDERABLE mark up on price. Someone will do it eventually.

 

[Darrin Sanders]

I've been thinking the exact same thing ever since I saw the thread about the new platen from Travis. I agree that a piece of pyroceram glass isn't gonna break the bank but its the idea of removing the old one and attaching the new one that gets me.
When I installed my first one I didn't think the glass would ever need replacing but it does, heck mine needs it right now. LOL Can't wait to hear what your guy has to say about the cost. If they're $200 or less you can put me down for one. More than that and I'll have to think about it.
Oh yeah, do they ship next week? LOL

 

[Matthew Gregory]

...I want to hear back from my friend in the business before I jump to the conclusion that it's too expensive. He is an entirely American manufacturer, and I'd much prefer to do business with someone I can trust. Patience! Hopefully I'll have an answer next week.

 

[Willie71]

Is it possible to put a carbide face on a steel platten? Might be a more economical option.

 

[J. Hoffman]

The Moen platen is $3200 for a reason.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Warren, that's basically what we're talking about here, as 1/8" really isn't all that thick. Need to make sure we get a nice, clean radiused edge, too, so I'm thinking it's got to be at least 1/8"...

 

[A.McPherson]

Sounds like an awesome idea if it's not too crazy in price, I'd buy one...

 

[Matthew Gregory]

No doubt, but I'm really not interested in replicating the Moen Platen. I just want to replace the pyroceramic platen that occasionally cracks, and causes my grinder to shock the piss out of me all winter as it generates tremendous static energy.

The Moen platen is $3200 for a reason.

 

[Tom Lewis]

Sounds very interesting! Looking forward to hearing what you come up with as far as price.

 

[john april]

sounds like a good idea. in my shop the glass ones wear out almost as fast as the metal ones.

 

[jdm61]

My question would be what kind of conductor of heat is carbide? That is always a problem with steel. As for static discharge, it doesn't have to be cold for that to happen!!! The other issue that I have had with glass is it chipping at the edges.

 

[Natlek]

My question would be what kind of conductor of heat is carbide? That is always a problem with steel. As for static discharge, it doesn't have to be cold for that to happen!!! The other issue that I have had with glass is it chipping at the edges.

Tungsten carbide has a high melting point at 2,870 °C (5,200 °F), a boiling point of 6,000 °C (10,830 °F) when under a pressure equivalent to 1 standard atmosphere (100 kPa), a thermal conductivity of 110 W. m. K−1, and a coefficient of thermalexpansion of 5.5 µm.

I think more important is that carbide plate is very slippery and will not generate heat .............

 

[12345678910]

I was thinking you could do it like the file guides, glued onto steel

But then you have to keep that glue cool

So skip the glue and silver solder it on, like brazed on carbide toolbits.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#1690t35/=18763ou
Ultra-Hard C2 Tungsten Carbide Bar, 1/8" Thick x 1" Wide x 6" Long 67.50$ usd
Not wide enough, so just for figuring sake, you need two widths-
I'm sure the larger width would be more expensive than that in real life.

Then you need to surface grind to finish dimensions.
Diamond wheel on the surface grinder. $ 150 to 200

So maybe $400

If you like the results, that's sort of reasonable.

 

[LARRYZ10]

Discussion has come up in certain circles after seeing nifty things at Blade Show, such as the trick attachment that Travis Weurtz and Hardcore released. The discussion was about getting a piece of carbide to mount instead of pyroceramic glass to keep your platen flat and reduce drag.

Overkill? Perhaps. BUT, as I do the math, I've probably spent upwards near $200 or so on replacement pyroceramic glass over the years - not that this is a large sum, mind you, however...

...if we could get a piece of carbide, say 2" wide, 8" long, and maybe 1/8" thick, with 1/8" radii already shaped on the sides, wouldn't that be nifty?

Am I the only jerk that thinks this is a cool idea?

I've got a call in to a guy that owns a business dealing exclusively with stuff like this, and he's going to tell me how farcical (read: expensive) my outlandish idea is. I'm holding out hope that it's not too expensive...

Anyone else think this isn't a bad idea?

Matt, I am assuming that you have tried Nathan's platens made from A2 or D2 and hardened. I use two of them , one with a chiller....but I live in Southern California where it seldom gets cold. Do you have to change pyro ceramic glass platens that often? I have not used them so I don't know if it's a lot of trouble. Are the glass platens much better than the hardened steel platens? Maybe I'm not doing it right or could do it better. Is there any advice you could provide. Thanks, Larry

 

[Tin.Man]

I'm in for one. Been researching for months now trying to make my own going as far as buying 4 1/2" wide 8" long carbide pieces. Striking out so far

 

[scott.livesey]

let me see, a 2"x 4" bullnosed ceramic tile costs $0.75 and will last at least a year. a piece O1 tempered to Rc65 should cost $5 or $6. sounds like another "Neat to Have" piece of knife making stuff

 

[Willie71]

Warren, that's basically what we're talking about here, as 1/8" really isn't all that thick. Need to make sure we get a nice, clean radiused edge, too, so I'm thinking it's got to be at least 1/8"...

I was thinking more like hard facing.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Hey Larry!
It's not about the cold, it's about the lack of humidity. As the humidity drops, the grinder starts developing electrostatic energy that needs to find a way to ground. If you don't happen to be touching a steel area of the grinder while you're grinding, tiny little arcs burn a hole in your support finger. I've had them get so bad that they don't stop bleeding for days.

I've tried hardened steel platens and have managed to wear grooves in them pretty quickly. I don't have a surface grinder, otherwise that would be a pretty acceptable option, as I could just resurface them and get back to work.

Matt, I am assuming that you have tried Nathan's platens made from A2 or D2 and hardened. I use two of them , one with a chiller....but I live in Southern California where it seldom gets cold. Do you have to change pyro ceramic glass platens that often? I have not used them so I don't know if it's a lot of trouble. Are the glass platens much better than the hardened steel platens? Maybe I'm not doing it right or could do it better. Is there any advice you could provide. Thanks, Larry

 

[REK Knives]

I remember reading about this idea a few years ago and someone said they had checked on a price and it was something crazy like $1k for a 2x8" piece. Will be very curious to hear what you can get one for... Staying tuned!