Deep scratches

[grizzled gizzard]

I see what you mean now. That does make a pretty sick effect. I've got about 20 huge teeth I cut off the blade to experiment with so I'm going to see just what it looks like next time I get the time. Thanks a plenty.

No problemo! Nice to hear that was what you were looking for.

Despite the drama. lol

And me being late as hell.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Just to clarify the remark.
When someone proposes a "way out there" comment or idea, I look at the person posting and the person the post is directed to. If they are reasonably experienced makers, or have expertise in the field being discussed, I rarely make any comment beyond how I might deal with the problem being discussed. However, when the person asking the question does not know enough yet to tell a good answer from a bad one, and the person giving the advice does not appear to have the experience or skill to make that suggestion,.... as moderator - I step in an make a comment. If it is just unrealistic or inaccurate, I merely point out the problem with the suggestion. If it is egregious and would send someone down the wrong path, possibly leading them to where they give up on the project, I am a bit more direct. Over the years I and the long time members here have seen many new members come in and start offering all sorts of advice that they have no experience or real knowledge about. many have offered terrible and dangerous advice. Those type of posts get a quick and direct response.
The OP was a total newbie, and the person giving advice was also. The advisor has no information in his profile or pervious posts that he has any metal working or welding skills. This was enough for me to think a fairly brusk reply was needed.
Remember, all these posts last forever on the internet. Some day a new person will look up some subject and may see this very thread...and try to weld up the scratches on his knife.

Welding up scratches a thin piece of unknown alloy metal with anything but very advanced equipment and skills would be a virtual impossibility. It would require welding fill rods/metal of the same alloy, and still probably show. Welding up a piece of thin metal completely covered in deep scratches would require a full surface build up weld. That would be even more problematic.

If someone doubts this, take a large piece of metal and scar the heck out of it with an angle grinder. Take it to a welding shop and ask what they would charge to restore the surface by welding up the surface to make it scratch free. If they don't laugh at you, the number they quote will make you laugh at them. If you want to go a step farther, go home and try and weld it all up with your shop welder. It will probably end with disaster, but if you finally get it done and grind the surface smooth ( remember, you have no tools but files and sandpaper to do the grinding), see how it looks when done.



The desired finished product Justin wanted in this case would be a simple battle axe profile on a wall hanger. Spending maybe $100 to get it professionally surface welded and many hours smoothing it out would be silly. Trying it at home would be a sure fire failure. Perhaps getting a clean sheet of mild steel from Home Depot or a scarp from a machine shop ( probably free)would be a better method.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

The only problem is that a few scratches are really deep and look bad since they are in circles.

Ah, I see it clearly now. I think Stacy is talking about a scratch covered surface, like a 24 grit finish and I think Zooker89 is talking about a few gouges that could be mig'd and ground smooth. Initially, and after re-reading the OP's comments, Zooker89's advice doesn't seem that bad. Stacy, I don't think he's talking about filling and resurfacing the entire thing, of just a few gouges as the OP mentioned. He mentioned that he already had it down to 50 grit and liked it, with just a few deep scratches left to clean up.

Zooker, don't be so hasty to respond. Give it some time for others to chime in and maybe support you if you deserve it. However, claiming a response was pompous and threatening to leave the forum because of it does a disservice to those that have tried to help you in the past.

 

[AVigil]

There is no need to slam a person by saying "That is one of the worst replies to a question about scratches I have ever read."

Being polite would get the message across much better.

 

[John Katt]

Stomping your feet, pitching a fit and running away should never be an option, stand up for yourself zooker, If you choose to hang out with a group of guys that like to play with fire and pound on steel all day you should expect some of the replies to be a little harsh, you need to thicken up that skin a little ;0)

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Just the difference between the hard weld metal and the soft mild steel would be an issue. They would almost surely look different.
The OP is pretty likely not in possession of a TIG and the skills to use one.
Additionally, the OP stated it was covered with "lots of scratches"...not a few deep gouges.

The simple and rational solution is to sand it down smooth. I stand by my statement that welding up scratches is the worst solution to smoothing up a scratched piece of metal for a blade project I have ever heard.

Hopefully, zooker will offer to do the welding for the OP as a gesture of his knifemaking and welding skills.

I'll just let this go now and get on with more important things.

 

[AVigil]

Just the difference between the hard weld metal and the soft mild steel would be an issue. They would almost surely look different.
The OP is pretty likely not in possession of a TIG and the skills to use one.
Additionally, the OP stated it was covered with "lots of scratches"...not a few deep gouges.

See that wasn't so hard