First Knife Steel too thick solutions

C

Chasen30

Joined
Mar 27, 2015
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So I ordered some O1 from Aldo with the unfortunate idea that I would be able to file or grind it down to the necessary thickness for my first project,a paring knife. I ordered 0.110 because that was the thinnest he had, but in thinking more about the project I realized that attempting to file that to 0.0625 is perhaps laughable. At least it will take a long time and getting a uniform thickness will be tough. Are there any easy solutions for that or do I just need to order more steel?
 
You would most likely have to take it to a machine shop and have it ground thinner but by that time you would have spent more than another piece of steel would cost. I would make a different knife with this steel and get some thinner next time for your paring knife. Of course this is just what I would do.
 
I would use what you got. If it ends up too thick learn from it, say "I meant to do that" and call it a chef's knife
 
Two solutions, one will be more fun than the other ;0)

solution number 1. have it surface ground

solution number 2. epoxy the steel to the bottom of a cement block and drag it behind your car on the way to work tomorrow, you will need to stop every couple hundred feet to cool the blade with water, otherwise you will over heat the epoxy causing the blade to release from the block and you will lose your knife
 
John Katt said:
solution number 2. epoxy the steel to the bottom of a cement block and drag it behind your car on the way to work tomorrow, you will need to stop every couple hundred feet to cool the blade with water, otherwise you will over heat the epoxy causing the blade to release from the block and you will lose your knife
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:thumbup:
 
I would use this as a good excuse to buy more steel.

When I buy steel I always make sure to buy a little bit of this or that. You never know where your knife making whim will take you next.
 
.110 with a bit of a distal taper would make a good petty knife if you don't want to go full chef. Or, once you have your blank cut out use a large magnet and your flat platten and grind the sucker down.

You should get one anyway. When you need it you need it.

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/images/MAG1&2_180.jpg


Or once you have your blank cut out draw file that sucker. Make a man outta' ya'!
 
Thanks for the responses. I'll look into the cost of surface grinding locally. I like the idea of sticking it on a block and dragging it, but I'm not fairly certain the roads aren't flat enough around here. I may cut the blank out and see what kind of time it'll take to draw file it. Could be good experience just to practice filing. On the same note, I didn't have it decarbed by Aldo, how do I know when I've gotten down to the good steel?
 
I would suggest keeping the steel and saving it for another project, no use in wasting material by grinding off a good 50% of it before you get to the profiling and bevelling stage. Next time perhaps look into getting some precision ground at the thickness you need? It'll save you alot of headache.

Cheers,

Peter
 
Keep and save for a different knife. I have a couple pieces of steel sitting around for exactly the same reason, including some 440C that was mis-ordered, at .30". I use it when I need a random heavy object in the shop.
 
Glad to hear it. Didn't want to be an ass. Seemed like a bad idea. Also, ordered some precision ground 1/16. I'll use the 0.110 for an all purpose.
 
Maelstrom78 said:
The dragging thing was an April fools joke. I'd like to see it though :)
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Chasen30 said:
Glad to hear it. Didn't want to be an ass. Seemed like a bad idea. Also, ordered some precision ground 1/16. I'll use the 0.110 for an all purpose.
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Hold on now April fools joke?

I have repeatedly admitted to, and demonstrated my redneck engineering skills here at BF, what makes you think I wasn't serious?

I have even come up with an idea to keep the steel cool so you don't have to stop!

Which I am planning to test tomorrow, my buddy Cletus has agreed to ride on the Cement block with a 5 gallon pail of water and a 3 foot piece of garden hose... ;0)
 
Well hell John, all you really need is a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a small hole in it and some bailing wire! Lash the bucket to the cement block and fill it with water, then Cletus can steer from the passenger seat while you get more beer from the bed of the truck!
 
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h20oni said:
Well hell John, all you really need is a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a small hole in it and some bailing wire! Lash the bucket to the cement block and fill it with water, then Cletus can steer from the passenger seat while you get more beer from the bed of the truck!
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LOL let Cletus drive...now that's an April fools joke if I ever heard one..

Besides Cletus's 16 year old daughter has agreed to ride in the back of the pickup and act as the beer assistant
 
Chasen30 said:
On the same note, I didn't have it decarbed by Aldo, how do I know when I've gotten down to the good steel?
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You will know. If you are draw filing by hand you will notice when the file stops skating and starts biting a bit more. If you are surface grinding against your platen, basically when you hit shiney metal all around.
 
John Katt said:
LOL let Cletus drive...now that's an April fools joke if I ever heard one..

Besides Cletus's 16 year old daughter has agreed to ride in the back of the pickup and act as the beer assistant
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I had more envisioned that Cletus would be wearing roller skates so he can keep his feet out to the sides to keep the block from rolling over.
 
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