Fixing Blade Dings-- Did I do it Right?

J

Josh Feltman

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Feb 12, 2001
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Well, I was out in the yard with my BAS this weekend, and I chopped through a tiny sapling. The khuk went right through the sapling and crashed blade-first into a big rock-- it ended up puting two +/- millimeter sized dings into the blade. After I got over the initial shock of damaging my baby, I went inside and used the chakmah to straighten the blade as much as possible. I then stropped the damaged area of the blade on 220 grit paper on a mousepad until the dings were gone, then finished the edge on 600 grit paper. I can't even see where the dings were, and the blade is as sharp as it was before the incident. Is this the proper way to fix the blade when this type of thing happens? Is it better to leave the dings in the blade and not worry about it? I didn't remove a huge amount of metal, but I don't want to do this every time the blade gets dinged up-- I'll lose too much metal. Also, does anyone know how far back the edge is hardened? How much can you sharpen before you get into softer metal?
--Josh
 
Sounds okay to me. I wouldn't worry about taking too much metal. You've probably got a half inch or so to play with.
 
I use a small ball peen hammer to tap out some of the dings in the blade. It works ok. For a user knife it's not a big deal to me. I have a couple of khuks. They're not fer usin', just fer lookin' at.
 
as Bruise mentions, a few light taps with a ball peen will push the dings back in line, then sharepn up. If it ain't 2mm or more outta whack, i just tap it with the chakmak instead of the hammer.

Your process seems to have worked jsut fine, can't see anything wring with it at all!

Keith
 
Thanks for the info, guys. I don't think peening would have helped too much as there were actually little chips of metal missing from the edge where it smashed into the rock. I will definitely keep it in mind for future repairs though.
--Josh
 
If the chips are small and on the tip, I usually leave them.

I've hit rocks the way you described. I've looked at them, said no way I can hit them, and then struck them.


munk
 
A similar thing just happened to me. I was clearing bushes next to a chain link in my back yard with my 15" Ang Khola. I know I hit that fence at least six times. I was surprised to see small chips in the sweet spot are of the blade edge. I also rolled the tip. The chipped area was not rolled because I could not see or feel metal on the sides of the blade. I thought the AK could withstand that sort of abuse without becoming damaged. The chips are small but I know I cannot sharpen them out. I brought the AK to a knife store that sharpens blades with a type of belt sander.
 
Chips like to grow, sometimes potentially blade failing fast. Its always a good idea to get them out. That said rolls can usually be pushed back, and it sounds like you have a good grasp on what to do.
 
the posts or the chain link itself? I've cut wire slightly smaller in dameter than chain link, with no or slight damage to the khuk. I'd say the temper was improper, but the chipping instead of folding or tearinng would suggest that the blade is pretty hard. My Ak cuts coins and soft metals, no problem. I think it would cut thru a cinderblock, but I cannot expect that the edge would be undamaged.

Hopefullly the regrind will take care of the problem. Coulda been a little thin on the edge, might try a convex grind or seconfary bevel on that khuk in the future.

Keith
 
Josh,

Sounds to me like you did exactly the right thing.
I'm inclined to let a few minor divits go in the softer parts of the blade, with the idea that they will eventually get honed out and not spread. In the hardest part I am more picky since that area gets the most use and things can spread in the harder metal that chips instead of dents or rolls.

Remember that these tools are expected to last by those that use them where they are made. I don't really think that one can wear them out by hand sharpening. And keep in mind that many knives need a couple of thorough sharpenings to reach a point where truely aligned edges are present and perhaps a bit of metal overheated from mechanical grinding is removed.

Non-judicious use of metal-eating power tools is another matter :)

I find it to be gratifying to retain sharpness by removing the least amount of metal once sharp, but considering the little use the knives see in my hands compared to daily use in Nepal, it is certainly just a pleasing mindset, not a practicality.

Enjoy the khuks, and keep them sharp. And look out for the rocks and metal fences.
 
Instead of reprofiling the edge to remove missing bits, you can take a small file or hone and work the inside of the irregular patch smoothing it out and basically turning it into a serration. This will prevent it from growing and restore a significant portion of the chopping ability. As you sharpen for regular maintenance the serration will gradually be removed.

-Cliff
 
Had the same problem with chipped edge near the belly, but thanks to the posts on this thread, I'm more confident about taking care of the damage on my blade (whose portion of the edge is now slightly serrated).
Eric
 
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