How Thin?

[nc_cooter]

With flat grinds, how thin are your blade edges before heat treat? After heat treat, how thin before convex sharpening grind?
Thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

.040 before HT. .010 after,then convex by using a slack belt.

 

[blgoode]

humm....about .030 before HT and depends on use after HT as to how thin.

 

[son_of_bluegrass]

What unit are y'all talking????

0.040 " sounds about right while 0.30 " is bigger than 1/4 " that is alot of hardened metal to remove after heat treat.

ron

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

.025-.030 thousandths

 

[nc_cooter]

I use a propane forge and a 3" pipe with one end sealed when heat treating to reduce scale. I use a magnet to check temp. Until recently all my knives were stock removal. I am working on 4 small knives forged to general shape, then flat grind to final. I got my first distal taper forged today, almost no grinding required.
The routine now using 1095: forge to shape- refine with grinder to 240 finish- 3 heats to stress relieve- edge quench in 150 F canola oil.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Way to go ,guy. Grinding is a skill,forging is an art.
Stacy

 

[C L Wilkins]

Thousandths??? About the width of a dime before heat treat, down to either 120 or 220 grit but I do make sure the ricasso is flat and parallel with calibers. I take it to no less than 220 grit.

Afterward heat treat, as thin as I dare on a 4" drop point hunter, being careful not to overheat on the grinder. I have a water bucket under my platen. If it discolors the least bit the temper is ruined.

Craig

 

[flatgrinder]

I use .020" for hunting knives, .010" for slicing knives and .040" for camp knives.

 

[Arthur Washburn]

All of my folders are heat treated before grinding. Most of my fixed blades are ground about 70% before heat treat. My normal edge thickness is .010 unless customer asks for something different.