Got My FREE Talonite from...

[SamuraiDave]

...Northwest Research Institute this morning.

I would have gotten it last night, but I have this gut feeling when something special arrives and I needed to study for a test tomorrow instead of play with a chunk of steel (BTW, I just checked and it is not magnetic, which is pretty cool).

Now, the question is "What do I do with it?". Have any of yall thought of any neat designs to make with your 1"x2"x3/16" piece? I was suprised by how thick this stuff was. They could have sent me 1/8" or 1/10" stock and that would have been cool, and if this stuff is as hard to grind as yall say it is the 3/16" is going to be... well... very time consuming.

Maybe we should hold a contest for who has the cheapest Free-bee Talonite knife with these dimentions. Makers? Manufactures? Any cool design thoughts?

(Right now I plan on attempting to cut to shape using a Dremal. This will probably take several cutting discs, but I am prepared to buy hacksaw blades if my Dremal dosent do it.)

 

[Steven Roos]

There was a suggestion for such a contest earlier. I don't know what happened to that thread.

My piece is in progress.

 

[Rothrandir]

a hacksaw ain't gonna "cut" it either

this stuff is a real pita!

i got mine yesterday, and think i've got a design now.
it's out to the grinder for me!

 

[SamuraiDave]

I spent the hour I had for lunch and another hour during dinner, I eat imbetween breaks , using my Dremal and a cutoff wheel. The good part is that it dosent eat up the 'reinforced cut-off' wheels, I am still on the first one in the package of 5, the bad part is that it took me the full 2 hours to cut a 1 1/4" portion that will be part of the edge.

Yall said it was tough stuff, but this is rediclious! I cannot wait to see what type of edge it holds! Got at least 1 more cut before I switch to my Used grinding wheels on my Dremal then after that the sanding wheels.

(Too bad I live in an apt. My neighbors havent started asking about the whine of the dremal or the noise the shop vac makes. )

 

[grommit]

Be real careful of the dust! Of course with any ventillation at all with the slow speed of dust production your narrative seems to indicate, you are probably fine. It could accumulate in the room and be puffed out of carpeting or upholstery again and again, so be real careful.