Finally stepping up from drawing

G

guitarguy1

Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
96
I've been lurking on here a few years, but was always too busy to really be able to devote the time I wanted to to building knives. But now....hehehe, I got my hands on 10 ft of 1095 for a decent price, and ordered some G10 and Micarta from jantz and usaknifemaker. I have 2 fixed blades I'm making, one of which is going to my buddy for his on duty carry beasty after we make sure it won't fail in any bad ways. I understand there being a concern, but I've done some heat treating and fun things like that while working on firearms, so I have a little bit of confidence in being able to successfully heat treat the relatively simple 1095.

I figure that I'll bead blast it, then harden it, shoot it with CeraKote, and then cook it at the 450 for 2 hours to both temper the steel and cook the CeraKote. Has anyone used CeraKote on a knife or know anyone who has experience? I feel like I would have a problem if I tempered it and then sprayed and cooked it again. Thoughts?

His - http://imgur.com/5T1nM6b

Mine - http://imgur.com/4Dbbhqw
 
I've done CeraKoting on guns, my 2 1911's and my AR were my test beds for the burnt bronze and white/black cerakote before we started doing it in the shop. I just know that I have the cooking cerakote as it's a more solid finish in my opinion. I just figured I could combine the cook and the temper, but I've never done a knife.
 
I wouldn't risk handling an untempered blade like that for any period of time. If you drop it or knock it against something it will likely shatter.

If your temper is at 450 degrees anyhow, there is no harm in doing your cerakote bake at 450 afterwards.

I guess you could always do an initial temper at 450, apply your cerakote, then do your second temper/cerakote bake at 450.
 
I just like low maintenance, good solid blades, and I love 1095 for knives. Especially for my first few forays into the bladesmithing world. I just hate having to oil them regularly to avoid rust. Hence the cerakote to protect them, both from dings/dents/damage and from rust/need for oiling.

But I guess there wouldn't be any real danger in taking the tempered steel up to that heat again. I just hadn't really considered it that way, both to minimize time and minimize things to go wrong in the making. But that's a fair point. I'm just really excited to finally have a bit of time to dedicate to a project I've been after for a while now.
 
http://imgur.com/a/z2Y6Y

Trying to get the grinding down, it's a pretty good learning curve.

http://imgur.com/3YLPpLv

All of my blanks cut out, ground, and sanded on the sides

http://imgur.com/BesPrRA

First blade to near completion, I like the shape, but I can't figure out why.

http://imgur.com/ym02rHm

Scales roughed out and work attached to the knife. Green/yellow micarta, which stinks to high heaven when you bandsaw it.

Basically, I just need to grind, harden, shape the handles and sharpen the blade. I'd say it's coming along nicely. If anyone has any suggestions or tips I'd appreciate any info, but I'm honestly having a great time with this. It's alot of fun. Blades are 1095, so heat treat should be fairly simple once the home made oven dries.
 
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