Flatten out bar stock

[g33kfu]

Well I'm officially ready to start my first knife. I have all the tools (hand) and just received my 1080 today. The barstock is 36" long and has a bit of a bow to it. I cut off a piece to profile and I'm wondering what people do to make sure their stock is straight before they start profiling. My first thought is to try to lay it on a flat surface and pound it with a rubber mallet. This being my first build I want to have the best start I can.

Thanks

 

[Patrickknives]

It really depends on the type of bend, sound like you have a long gradual bend and hammering probably wont do it. If the piece is over 12" I put in in a vice and bend slightly to get straight and pull out of the vice a bit by bit, dont over do it. If it is short I use scrap wood on each end and a piece on the oposite side in the vise to straighten.

Pressure here
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[R.C.Reichert]

Don't pound on the barstock with anything. I tried that once and the steel bounced right back and into my face. Had a nice gash close to my eye. The best is to bend the full-size bar straight over your knee before you even start cutting it. It is much easier to straighten a long bar than a short one.

 

[g33kfu]

Thanks guys. I'll try using a combination of all the methods posted. I have already hacked off a piece so I'll try putting it between some wood in the vise and see how that goes. It's just a slight bend so that it won't lay flat on a surface so it shouldn't be too bad to straighten out.....hopefully