How do I fix this bar of rusted 1095?

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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Hey guys, I have a couple of bars of 1095 (1/8" x 1 1/2 x 14"), one has surface rust.

Here's a pic

IMAG1905_zpsa3577847.jpg


I don't have a surface grinder. What's the best way to lose the rust but keep it flat?

Edit- just realized that the pic makes the bar look kinda twisted. It's flat.
 
The low tech way would be sandpaper on a flat surface. Rub the bar over it with gentle even pressure. A cheap granite surface plate is what a lot of folks use, but glass, melamine coated MDF, faux-stone counter material, a big granite tile, etc., are all "flat enough". This method will keep each side mostly flat, but the surfaces may not be parallel anymore when you are done.

Silly question perhaps, but when you grind that bar into a knife, won't you remove the rust then?
 
The way to fix that rusted bar is to grind away all the rusted parts that don't look like a knife :)
You can grind it with an 80 grit belt to remove the rust if you want to , but it will come off in the bevel grinding and general shaping anyway, so why bother.
If forging it, just brush it of with a wire brush and stick it in the forge.
 
Pt, the bar is flat. I was worried that grinding off the rust would cause it to have dips or waves, but I may just be over-thinking it.
 
I have a piece of 1095 rusted similar to yours. The trouble I had was the rust pitted the steel far deeper than I would have imagined. Not a problem for the bevels but it left a pitted surface at the Ricasso and tang. I couldn't grind enough off to get a clean surface for the Ricasso and tang.
 
What is wrong with it?

Rust isn't bad, WD-40 and a little steel wool, or fine scotch bright pan and you have a very nice patina.
 
bladsmth said:
The way to fix that rusted bar is to grind away all the rusted parts that don't look like a knife :)
Click to expand...

Yup!

If there are little pits and marks left when you're done grinding to your desired dimensions, embrace them. They don't hurt a thing. You could even go so far as to pickle the finished blade in bleach, acid, etc, and accentuate the pits/patina/imperfections. Some people pay extra for that. :)
 
james terrio said:
Yup!

If there are little pits and marks left when you're done grinding to your desired dimensions, embrace them. They don't hurt a thing. You could even go so far as to pickle the finished blade in bleach, acid, etc, and accentuate the pits/patina/imperfections. Some people pay extra for that. :)
Click to expand...

Haha very true.

The reason why I was concerned about the surface is because I don't usually touch the tang to the grinder with pg steel.

In any case, I've just been using it for blades where the hidden tang must be ground thinner anyway, and for making stamps to try water quenching. Nothing glamorous for that bar I'm afraid, but I'm learning. :)
 
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