Hammer Peening 416 Stainless?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
I'm making a d-guard bowie and using 416 stainless for the guard. Once along time ago I made a box for a knife out of pine and took a ball peen hammer and tapped all over the box. Made it look like something from the middle ages, real nice effect. Has anyone ever tried this on a steel guard or seen it done?? Did you like it or was it ugly? Thanks !

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Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
I've done it on brass and seen it on nickel silver. It added a pretty cool effect to it. JP Moss does it on some of his big bowies. You can see one if you go to his website (can't remember the URL, but it's a link in the International Directory). It's really easy to hammer peen brass....416 seems like it would be a real bear to get the marks deep enough to look good.

I'd try it on a scrap piece and see how deep you can get it and go from there.

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Nick
 
I have used this Dremel tool bit to make a similar effect on a blade before.
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I just cut grooves in the steel. The "trick" here is to run perpendicular with the small grinding wheel, not with it. It almost looks like flint...



[This message has been edited by C L Wilkins (edited 12-25-2000).]
 
I've forged 316 C stainless. Not the easiest thing I've done but it works. With the 400 stainless you may wind up with hard spots that will break under stress.
Lynn
 
Thanks folks!! I have some scrap chunks I'll try peening to see what it works and looks like. I know 416 mills, drills, and grinds real easy, but it's a bugger to bend.

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Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
I've gotten this same effect by using a 5/8 inch stone in a die grinder. Only problem is that my fingers always tingle for about 3 days afterwords.....
 
Micheal,

I don,t have any experience with stainless steel, but with copper,brass and nickel silver I get a eye pleasing look hammering the material with either a one or two ounce ball pein hammer. But be prepared for along winters night, as this does take some time.

Jeff
 
Craig, I tried your method and it looks great! I tried 3 different kinds of dremel rocks and prefer the marks left by a red one. It leaves a little bigger and deeper mark. Do you buff the area any after it's nuggeted??? Thanks!

------------------
Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
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