Dishwasher?

B

Bart student

Joined
Nov 17, 1999
Messages
676
Hello Folks,

I intend to make some kitchen knives, from some recuperated Muela blades (like 420 HC but with molybdenum and vanadium) because they don't rust too much.
The problem is the handle. Most muela blades I have are stick tangs. If I make the handle solid micarta, brass bolster and glue the whole thing together with expoxy (araldite), Is the knife then dishwasher proof?
The smaller knives will be made out of D-2, as I could harden that myself and don't have to send it away.
For the record, it IS impossible to harden stainless steels in a charcoal forge, is it?

greetz & thanks, Bart.
 
I'm not disputing the advice. Putting a custom knife in the dishwasher is like deer hunting with (your boss's) Ferrari. It just isn't done. I also accept the heat concern completely although there has to be an answer to that because Walmart sells staek knives for about $2 each that take many years of dishwasher abuse.

What I am questioning is the notion that the water 'blast' will dull the edge. Dear heaven - what would happen if you tried to cut a tomatoe?
eek.gif




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Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
 
Water can actually cut steel. Just look at a water jet machine. And straight out of the tap water has microscopic impurities in it that can wear on metal and other such items.
I am not saying that it will dull it at a rapid rate. It will do so slowly, but surely.
Just give it a try and see for yourself.

$2 steak knives from Wal-Mart don't usually have epoxied handles. The serrations that are usually on one of those knives will cut even when dull, too.

That's just my $.02 Hope I didn't P1$$ anybody off.

------------------
Barry
Jones Knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=926274
New Knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=5922856
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry
 
Micarta has a habit of bleaching out over time in harsh dishwasher detergent.

Epoxy is available in different configurations and resistance to temperature extremes. Hot water gets to 212 degrees so any temp rating above that is OK. Look for a water PROOF epoxy not just water resistant.

The professional chefs that I sell to have a royal fit when someone suggests putting quality knives in the dishwasher, they believe that the dishwasher dulls knives.

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
Originally posted by george tichbourne:
The professional chefs that I sell to have a royal fit when someone suggests putting quality knives in the dishwasher, they believe that the dishwasher dulls knives.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that knives dull in a dishwasher because they rub on other metal. I don't see any way water in a dishwasher could have enough pressure to dull knives.

 
Dishwater tends to dull knives, pressure or no. It may be the alkalinity changes, acids attacking one component of steel, bases attacking another, but I don't really know, I just know that it happens.
Who told you you can't harden stainless in a charcoal forge? From my experience, you can do anything in charcoal that you can in coal or gas. Heat treating ovens are more precise, but you have tolerances you can work with.

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Oz

"This is your life, and it's ending; One minute at a time."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
This dishwater-dulls-knives business has me curious. Can any of the chemistry experts out there provide a scientific explanation of how dishwater could dull knives? If it does happen, what's the time frame for it? (Any steel edge will certainly rust away after 10,000 years in water.)
 
A few reasons why knives get dull in the dishwasher:
They are actually moving and rubing against what ever else you put in, so this will dull knives.
Dishwashing soap is actually abrasive. this works in conjunction with the pressure of the water stream. Look at your wine glasses after a couple of washings and you will notice minute scratches. The soaps used in a commerial kitchen are way more aggressive then the once you use at home.

FYI, for water jet cutting there is a abrasive used with the pressure, water alone will not do it.

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Haslinger Handcrafted Custom Knives
http://members.home.net/thknives
thknives@home.com
 
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