First knife pre-heat treat pictures

Y

YuriM

Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
169
Behold my 133t photography skills!

knife-pre-HT.jpg



There was a slight delay between the filing and the sanding because I had to get to a hardware store to get some sandpaper. I got 100, 150, 220 and 320 grit and used that to polish the knife up... I'm now afraid to touch it since it leaves dirty fingerprints all over the place. :D

I was meaning to ask: should I polish it up this much pre-HT? Or should I go up to maybe 220, then get it heat treated and then polish it with the finer grit(s)?

Mr. Linger, in case you read this, I sent you an e-mail yesterday asking about your heat treating services. Did you receive it or should I send it again?
 
That's a good clean looking job Yuri. I wouldn't go beyond 220 in fact I stop at 180 or below. It looks like you left enough steel on it to be safe but remember, it has to be ground again after heat treat. Other than satisfaction, there isn't any reason to go to the finer grits. OTOH...it doesn't hurt either so if you like looking at them....go ahead.

Nice job, nice design and it should be a nice knife! ;)
 
wow thats really nice for a first knife. have you done any kit knives prior to this? thats something to be proud of for your first knife.
ahhh go ahead sand it to mirror..... you'lll just have to do it again.
:D :D
depending ont he HT you're going to do you can take it further.
check out kevin cashens website he'll talk about how he finishes to 600 grit before HT. but thats because he's using salt baths.
its kind of cool you can hand finish the steel while its still soft and it cuts easily. then just go back after HT and start with 400 grit i think he recommends.

but if you're like the rest of us...... ;) we'll stick to using the coal and gas forges.

keep us updated after the HT
 
Thanks, guys, you're too kind!

The knife looks much better on the picture than in real life... Probably because it's a crappy picture. :D The grind's not-quite-symmetrical and there's a few deepish scratches near the ricasso/guard that I've been warring against.

Michael, I haven't done any knife kits, ever. The idea just didn't seem to appeal to me somehow, so I went and jumped off the deep end.
 
Nice knife. I just got my 1st nife back from HT today. So much for the nice 800 grit finish I had on it before I sent it off. THEY GOT IT ALL DIRTY! Hehe...

I spent a few hours today cleaning it up and putting the satin finish on. Tomorrow peening my first bolsters on.

Be sure to post pictures of your knife when you get it complete. Looks like you have a good start on it!


Kraig
www.sedergraphics.com
 
Yeah, that is something to be proud of! Way to go. I'm with you in how kit blades just don't "feel" right. If you're going to make a knife you may as well make the whole thing. That way you're getting what you want rather than someone else's concept. That's what it's all about to me anyway. I've put together a couple of kit folders and I just didn't feel like I'd made a knife, no matter how much I customized it.

As to heat treat. Give Roger some time, he's a busy fellow! He does have a real life too, after all. :D A lot of folks talk about what grit to take it to before HT, because you do have to remove some decarborized steel afterwards. I'm slowly learning how much steel to leave at the edge before HT, which is more than I initially did. :) I still take it to 400 before HT and start with 320 after. Seems to work for me but everyone has their own methods that work for them. You'll develop your own too. Can't wait to see this one finished! It looks great.

Oh, one suggestion. Countersink your holes a bit before HT to reduce the possibility of stress risers. It looks like you're not planning bolsters but if you are I'd recommend two pins to hold them. Don't mean to butt in, but there's no joy in drilling hardened steel. (We've all done it, none would say it made their day. :D ) More holes are better than fewer; the more holes in your tang the lighter it'll be.

Good luck! Keep us posted.
 
Yes indeed I received your email in good order and although late in responding did so several hours ago. Nice looking first one there Yuri. I suggest taking it to about 400 grit and no finer before heat treating. I believe you said in your email that it is 440C. If that be true I will foil wrap it, so you will not have any decarburation or pitting. There will be very shallow discoloration from the effects of HT for you to grind or hand finish off.

RL (Roger)
 
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