Degradation of Sharpness - Carbon Leeching?

[Acinonyx]

You wouldn't see posts like Ferguson & t1mpani's anywhere else on the net. Makes me wish trans-atlantic mail was cheaper.

 

[titus010782]

I would do the outfit that made it a favor and write them describing what you have observed and give them a chance to correct it. Customer feedback is a significant contributer to future quality - if the maker cares.

Unless you are one of the few with very few with acid skin, the natural oils from your fingers should actually preserve the edge.

It is nice to hear about someone who uses sandpaper to sharpen a knife rather than the fancy sharpeners and training wheels! Try using some 320 grit.

Pukka advice form the man himself, thank you Ed.

 

[titus010782]

You wouldn't see posts like Ferguson & t1mpani's anywhere else on the net. Makes me wish trans-atlantic mail was cheaper.

Hi. WHere are you? I am in Southampton, Hampshire.
Might pay us to plan ahead and get stuff shipped over in bulk.

 

[MrMike]

Thanks to all for the insight!
I'm not putting down users who belt sand... the benefits are noted and your reasons are valid.
T1mpani: Your note on oxidation is dead on. I agree and though of this myself and must admit that I spent a lot of time rubbing the ball of my thumb over the dang edge to check the consistency. Then I resheath without oiling. Could this contribute to the issue? Certainly. Is it 100% of the issue? I doubt it.

I mentioned that I run the sandpaper down the blade from cho to tip using a block. I'm really careful to never blunt the edge profile (sweeping it off the edge instead of with it), but I suspect that this could be part of the problem in and of itself. It's certainly easier, and creates a cleaner look as you don't have lateral scuff marks from the top of the bevel to the edge all the way down the blade.

Honestly, 600 grit produces a sufficient bite which is much more conducive to working on hardwood like pine, maple, etc - and I'm really happy with that edge. I'm learning that 1500 grit is overkill if the edge blows out after a week. I'll sacrifice looks for efficient cutting.

I'll do some hardness tests with some common nails this weekend.
And for the record - I INTEND TO USE THIS WORK OF ART. I was dismayed the first time i whacked through a piece of dry maple and scuffed up the entire blade. Get over it. It's a tool. One we should be proud to use. And a very effective one. It splits wood better than my hand axe and for $165 you better believe it's a user!

To all, I'll also show you photos of the bluing job and my eraser block/paper towel rig for stropping the grit off the blade. I think I'm on to something (paper towel rolled into a small stropping tube) - the refined edge is noticably better when using this technique. I've not had luck with leather strops due to the blade shape and steep bevel.

I've been sharpening my entire life. My blades have gained fair notoriety in my family. My wife has cut herself so many times she won't use our kitchen knives due to how sharp they are. That's why this issue is so frustrating.

 

[Wolf_1989]

MrMike says: "I'm a tad nuts for spending the amount of time babying this work of art."

MrMike, you hit the nail on the head. These khukuris are works of art FIRST, and anything else, second. It's good to keep that in mind. My Chitlangi is beautiful, and it has a place of honor in my knife collection. I'm glad I bought it, but I would never even think of using it for much of anything. Too heavy, too dull, too hard to sharpen, awkward to carry around, etc. But as art..... well this one tops them all.

Love these khukuris for what they are, and don't try to make them what they are not, and you will be much more satisfied with them.

Just to see if it could be done, I turned these H.I. chitlangi's into khukuri-shaped straight razors:

After some months of use after applying those wicked edges, they're showing virtually no signs of dullness.

I used the big 26" one for the last couple of days to butcher a downed maple tree. It will still cleanly remove hair from your arm as easily as a Gillette will.

The small 15.5" chitlangi belongs to my wife. It also took - and holds - a surgical quality edge. She usually puts it to work as a meat cleaver in the kitchen. I bought it for her last summer and I have yet to touch up that edge.

The one in the middle is my baby but I don't baby it. It's a 21.5" chitlangi by Sher. It's one of my most prized possessions. It took a frightening edge and nearly a year later it still has that edge.

 

[greenwoods]

I'd be happy to put a nice convex edge on one for any of you gentlemen. No charge, just return postage. I've never had any of mine lose sharpness in the scabbard.
Steve Ferguson sferguson2@triad.rr.com

A crate of cutlasses and a pirates chest full o' knuks incoming...jk

Seriously folks, Steve has a symbiotic relationship with a belt sander.
I'm still afraid of the knives I have that He has turned into lazer knives


Mark

 

[bradph]

Now a video of a man shaving with a HI Khuk... that would be cool!!!!



Sorry for the newbie remark.. I don't post often, but I read all the posts. Only own two HI Khuks and 1 Talwar... but I love them all.

 

[b.c.molin]

... I am astonished at the goodness of spirit of some of the H.I. folks.

After a much shorter time I too continued to be amazed by the kindness and generous acts of so many here it really makes me try emulate their behaviour as much as possible.

I believe in the saying "I came to buy a Khukuri but stayed for the community." :thumbup:

 

[bennyjenkins]

I too will vouch for Mr Ferguson. The man has a way of putting edges on steel that words don't do justice.

 

[bradph]

To clarify (because my forum-fu is weak).. I was just joking about the shaving!!! Sorry!

 

[MrMike]

Just to see if it could be done, I turned these H.I. chitlangi's into khukuri-shaped straight razors:

WOLF: What is your sharpening method?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Just to see if it could be done, I turned these H.I. chitlangi's into khukuri-shaped straight razors:

WOLF: What is your sharpening method?

I convex by hand using a variety of stones, butcher steel, etc.

Convexing the edge is something I discovered on my own as a teenager helping neighbors butcher livestock.

But, IIRC I used a diamond hone to establish the geometry, then used increasingly finer stones to refine it, then finished them off using a butcher's steel and the chakmas. The 21.5" Chitlangi got an extra touch; just a little final touches from my Surgical Black stone.

I don't really have any magical secret to reveal. It might sound hinky to some but I've done it for so long now that I can just feel it or something when I'm working that edge.

There's someone with the screen name Desertangel who might show up here and tell you what he's personally seen regarding my sharpening abilities. I scored a Panchthar Chitlangi for him last year on a DOD and the surgical edge I put on it is still just as sharp as it was months ago.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I used my 20" H.I. Ang Khola to chop up this downed tree last september after the big wind storms.

Notice how many of the branches were severed with only one or two blows.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

To clarify (because my forum-fu is weak).. I was just joking about the shaving!!! Sorry!

We have a member of the "old guard" that pops in from time to time (and his visits are always appreciated, welcomed, and looked forward to). He was a Sarge all over the world. I remember him telling stories about how he would shave his head with a knife when the new guys would show up to the sandbox. I don't know if he ever did it with a khuk, although he packed several of them during various stints

One thing to point out about ol' Sarge is that in addition to being a fine and respected member of the Cantina, he is also incredibly handy in a lot of other areas. The man can pound steel:thumbup: Having handled one of his little knives gifted to my wife, I can tell you that if he put an edge on his khuks like he does his own knives....it will certainly put most disposable razors to shame.

I can get a knife very sharp...but some of y'all! Man o man do you have a gift:thumbup:

 

[C.S. Graves]

I don't know if he ever did it with a khuk, although he packed several of them during various stints

Didn't he shave with a Bilton at one point?

 

[AF]

I used my 20" H.I. Ang Khola to chop up this downed tree last september after the big wind storms.

Notice how many of the branches were severed with only one or two blows

Nice work! That's impressive.

 

[MrMike]

So back to the initial carbon leeching theory... Does anyone have any more info?

Side note:
Many people discuss the use of ceramic crock sticks - I have a A.G. Russell field sharpener with two superfine ceramic rods set at a 30 degree compound. To tell you the truth, I get a much better edge with plain-ol sandpaper.

 

[titus010782]

side note: when I looked at wolf's straight razor khukri, I felt a sudden burning sensation and looked down at my left index finger, I had cut myself. Those knives are sharp!

 

[MrMike]

Took a common finishing nail (3/4") and placed it on a book as a padded support.
I first pressed into the nail lightly using the belly of the blade (supposed to be 58-60 RC). The nail indented with a nick slightly. No visible damage to the edge of the blade.

Next, I placed the belly of the blade on the nail and battoned it hard with the palm of my hand. The nail bent significantly, but there was no visible nick or other damage. The khukri fared worse... I now have a ding in the blade. It didn't chip - it just rolled.

Not clear how hard the nail or the blade are - but when I see Wolf describing butchering an oak tree and then shaving afterward - I think my blade is significantly softer.

 

[MrMike]

I shelved the technique of sandpapering length of the blade. I spent a fair amount of hours this weekend hand sandpapering from the bevel to the edge in short controlled strokes with 600 grit. There is a flat spot near the curve of the cho that still needs to be profiled but for now, a huge improvement. It's double the effort.

I can now cleanly slice copy paper and that's never happened before. I thought the aesthetics would be ruined, but the satin finish of the bevel actually looks quite nice when done carefully. Now - for the edge retention test. We had a snowstorm this weekend in Wisconsin so I couldn't do some chop tests. I oiled it and stored it. Will check again this coming weekend and test on some hard dry maple.

It is noticeably sharper. The tooth of the sandpaper is why. I did not go down to 1500 grit this time. Those mini-serrations are the key.