grind pre heat treat for 1/8" steel

[claymoore]

Gentleman, Do any of you custom makers pre grind 1/8" (1095, 1084, O1) before heat treat or after. The reason i ask is because i just got my kiln wired for 240v today and have various sizes to choose from to heat first. Any help appreciated. And, if you don't have anything nice to say(about me personally) don't say it.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

You can go either way, lately I have preferred to grind post heat treat especially on anything 1/8" or under.

I would use slow speeds, new belts and somewhat lighter pressure.

There are advantages and disadvantages either way.

 

[claymoore]

Thanks Daniel, i'm gonna try it. You make beautiful blades buy the way.

 

[Jason Fry]

I grind 1/8 before heat treat. I'll sometimes do 3/32 after, but 1/8 always before.

 

[SBuzek]

On carbon steels I grind 1/8" before H/T,but only to about 80% fininshed,then fin ish grind after H/T to remove the decarb layer.What I mean is I rough grind my bevels to about 220 grit leaving the edge at about .035-.040.
Stan

 

[Remyrw]

I've done it both ways, and until recently was mostly doing pre-heat treat. I've decided that I prefer doing 1/8" and thinner AFTER heat treat. This is 1080/1084 and CPM154. In particular with longer blades I find I have an easier time not putting a bend in things and keeping my lines even.

I profile, drill and put very short bevels in, really just grinding a 45 or so on either side of where the edge will be to reduce belt wear from the sharp corner. grind the flats if needed then ht. I'm really not noticing a difference in time spent on a knife, and if there's a difference it's to the post ht grinding's advantage. Fewer things to fix, less duplicated work... The actual material removal is slightly slower but with good belts there's not that much difference it seems.