Did I Get Some Bad Steel?

P

popcornpicker

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
625
I picked up a 2001 112 on the bay that was used and had a few scratches. No big deal, right. Sand out the scratches, hit it with a Scotchbrite wheel and it"ll look like new. When I got after it with 800, I noticed some imperfections in the blade. There's about a 1/8 inch oval on one side and some smaller ones on the other side. They look kinda like water spots except its in the metal. Not just a surface thing, the metal is lower, like craters. It wasn't corrosion either. Any ideas?
 
I have had the same thing happen to some 110 blades that were being mirrow polished also, so I don't think it's a particularly uncommon occurrence. Someone with a whole lot more knowledge of steel will have to come along and give an explanation as to why. Incidentally, Ive also seen the same thing happen on both brass and nickel bolsters that were being polished.
 
According to some questions I've asked before, the brass has a layer for the finish that is less porous than the main body. If you work on some beat up bolsters the metal underneath isn't of the same quality as the top finish. Can you laminate steel?
 
popcornpicker said:
Can you laminate steel?
Click to expand...

Yup, that's what Damascus steel is... ;)

I wonder if your spots are due to improper heat treating??? Maybe someone kept opening the oven door and puffs of air kept hitting your blade... :rolleyes:

Hey, you got a Scotchbrite wheel??? :eek: How does it do to match the OEM Buck satin finish???
 
It matches the original almost perfectly. I take green Scotchbrite sheets and use an old CD as a pattern. Stack four of them on a bench grinder and there you go. Sand out the scratches first, then hit it with the wheel. Just like new.
 
Guys, Yes this does occur in cutlery steels some during the manufacturing process. I've seen it in D2 and 425M. When the steel is made even though it comes out very hot (orange 2000deg.) and is then rolled between rollers under tremendous pressures, inclusions may still occur inside the material. Its more common in some recipies than others and at the same steel mill. But it does occur. Not seeing it and just going by what your describing I'd say thats my guess. I wish those didn't occur for it takes a lot of polishing to get out. But it shouldn't compromise the metals integrity for they tend to be sporadic. If you cannot live w/ it just return it. Buck will make it right. DM
 
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