Do I need to heat treat a wedding cake knife?

shaynster

shaynster

Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Messages
354
It's only going to be used once and it's just cutting cake. It's aeb-l stainless, should I still heat treat it? If so is there anyone in northern Indiana that wants to do it?

Thanks,
Shayn
 
This is a should vs. need question. The following are the various things that will determine the need for HT.

A cake isn't hard or tough, so it does not need any of the things that a hardened blade will provide.
Stainless steel isn't stainless until after HT, but if it is only going to be used once, it won't matter.
A cake knife is almost a KSO, and in that respect, it doesn't matter.
The purist POV is that all knives need to be hardened, but as stated in the last item, this is barely a knife.
The extra cost and finishing will be unnecessary on a cake knife, as it will never encounter wear or frequent use.



I would say that if this truly will only be a cake knife , and it will only be used once ( or only occasionally) ... to cut cake, then HT is not needed.
 
The purist in me says yes heat treat it and sharpen it, the former wedding photographer in me says polish it and call it done, your name will be on it not mine. I would heat treat and sharpen it

-Page
 
sunshadow said:
The purist in me says yes heat treat it and sharpen it, the former wedding photographer in me says polish it and call it done, your name will be on it not mine. I would heat treat and sharpen it

-Page
Click to expand...

I really didn't think I would sharpen it too much, I don't want anyone to cut themselves. My name being on it is another story, I haven't figured out a name for my knives.
 
One more question, would it be more corrosion resistant if it was heat treated? My nephew said they would probably use it and pack it away after the wedding. I don't know metals very well and don't want it to corrode after they pack it away.

Thanks,
Shayn
 
The age old story,it will only be a wall hanger.And then someone else ends up with it.They try to use it like a knife because it looks like one.Your name is going to be on it right? Go ahead and treat it like any other Knife you would make and do the best you can.
Eddie
 
shaynster said:
My last name is Mitchell and someone on here already uses Mitchell Knives.
Click to expand...


First initial and last name, or full name, include your state underneath too if you want. The idea is you you want people who like your work to be able to find you so you can sell more knives.
 
I got married in April and this is the cake knife I made:


Untitled by bruce culberson, on Flickr

It was ground from 3/32" 52100, has a 7.5" blade, handle is stabilized walnut with G-10 orange spacers. Now I use it all the time - makes a great kitchen knife :)

For the amount of time it takes to make a knife I would recommend heat treat, then it can be used for real cutting.

Bruce
 
gredpe3 said:
The age old story,it will only be a wall hanger.And then someone else ends up with it.They try to use it like a knife because it looks like one.Your name is going to be on it right? Go ahead and treat it like any other Knife you would make and do the best you can.
Eddie
Click to expand...
Totaly agree.
A knife is a knife and should be usable.
It could make a nice kitchenknife with the sentimental value
 
shaynster said:
One more question, would it (AEB-L) be more corrosion resistant if it was heat treated?
Click to expand...

Yes, very much so.

One might take the view that this is neither a "proper" knife nor a spatula that will only be used once, but a handcrafted keepsake of a very special event. As such, and even if for no other reason, I would have it HT'ed. Do you really want the bride to take this thing out of her hope chest in five years and be looking at a rusty, pitted piece of junk?

There's another, cheaper and easier alternative. If HT is prohibitively expensive, and since it's not really required for a cake "knife", there's no real need to use cutlery steel at all. Simple 300-series "structural" stainless steel can be polished quite nicely, does not require HT, and is highly stain-resistant just as it comes from the supplier. Save the AEB-L for a proper kitchen or hunting knife that actually requires good HT and a nice cutting edge, not a KSO or butter knife.
 
Marriage is for life, and the same is for the cake knife, I would certainly HT it properly.
 
IMHO, if it won't hold an edge, it's not a knife. Just a piece of steel ground in the shape of a knife. "Hey guys, let's cut the cake with this knife shaped piece of steel". Yeah, get it heat treated and put the sharpest edge on it you can. If someone gets cut, they'll learn to be careful when they see your name on the blade!
 
How good will your knife look? Bruce Culbertson had a great idea when he made his wedding knife. Why put it away? Every time they use it they will be reminded of their wedding. You could make a simple 7" boning knife, keep it dull for the wedding, then sharpen it up for the kitchen.
 
I am working on a wedding knife right now. It is W2, will have a differential heat treat, and is a hybrid bowie/kitchen knife. I am getting it professionally engraved, and designed it so it CAN be a user if they want it to be. The blade looks a lot like Bruce's, but I am doing hidden tang with a simple stainless guard.
 
Here's a wedding cake knife I made 2 years ago. Designed to be able to cut the cake, serve it, and still be used in the kitchen to chop veggies. Yes, it was heat treated, extremely sharp.
purpleheart.jpg
 
Mudbug007 said:
IMHO, if it won't hold an edge, it's not a knife. Just a piece of steel ground in the shape of a knife. "Hey guys, let's cut the cake with this knife shaped piece of steel". Yeah, get it heat treated and put the sharpest edge on it you can. If someone gets cut, they'll learn to be careful when they see your name on the blade!
Click to expand...

Well stated!

-Page
 
Well, I do not have a dog in this debate. However. many years down the road one of the couples children might want to place the knife to work. I would not cut corners, definitely have the blade heat treated. AEB-L is a first class steel. Do not get off the horse in the middle of the stream.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top