Just venting about frustrating HT today. (How NOT To...)

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
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I forged and ground a 10" integral chef in 52100, had about 4-5 hours into it already. I should have known, I've made this mistake before- don't grind the damn edge to 20 thous BEFORE heat treat. Well, even with pre-normalization cycles, the edge came out of the quench with massive wave-warping along the edge. Tried all the tricks in my book today, even made up a couple- to no avail, I ended up cracking the edge. AARRRGH. Back to square one tomorrow. Why does it have to be an order that's due on Monday?

Rant off.
 
That is always a bummer, I dont have orders in knives but had this similar issue with leather work. Started out "oh yeah I can make that work", day before it was suppose to be done I was on my third prototype. Got it done but man I wasnt happy working on it at 2300 at night.
 
That's it. And even worse is if you have a deposit riding on the item you are having trouble with. One big reason I no longer ask for deposits.
 
Yes and no, deposit will probably give that extra initiative to get it done on time. Something I think is necessary for personalized custom work but not as much for stuff that is not personalized. The never ending debate.
 
I do realize that there are reasons one would take deposits, and I do if I need special materials for a custom, but I've seen more makers crash and burn on this issue than any other. Just kinda dangerous, I don't like the feeling personally. Well, gotta get to bed- getting up early to re forge that blade. It's just more practice, I'm getting a lot more efficient at forging integrals that are tall right at the heel now. And, forging down heavy stock on the hammer with out getting "fish lips" at the end.
 
Bummer about the warp Salem, like you said its all practice, your morning session should yeild better results that for sure! Im looking forward to getting up there this summer!
Greg
 
That is too bad, Salem. Hey, just look at it as an opportunity to beat the record for the last time you screwed up a blade days before it had to ship.:thumbup:

I agree with Salem... avoid deposits, unless you are requested to buy special material by the customer. Deposits and delivery dates hanging over your head make for lousy incentives. However effective they may be... IMHO, it is no different than having an annoying boss riding your butt to make deadlines. A happy knifemaker makes better knives. Self-motivation is king.
 
Really sorry to hear about that.. and can partially share in your frustration with similar events.. .

Salem Straub said:
That's it. And even worse is if you have a deposit riding on the item you are having trouble with. One big reason I no longer ask for deposits.
Click to expand...

I agree, Deposits are a stress-o-meter in the making..
 
Salem, I doubt it will make either of us feel better, but:

Yesterday, I was doing the finishing touches on the handle of a knife I have worked on ( well, on and off) for about 10 years. I needed to change the curve in the tang just a tad. Now, I could have gone to the drill press and changed the hole in the handle a bit....but Nooo....And I could have pulled out the torch and spot heated the tang where it needed about 1/8" more curve.....but Nooooo, so I took the tang to the anvil and gave it a gentle tap....and broke the weld where the threaded extension was attached. Stupid - Check; Did I know that would likely happen - Check; Was I saying bad words - CHECK.

I had to take everything apart and go back and re-weld the tang ( not nearly as pretty as it was before), and then clean up everything again. I got it back to where it was in a couple hours....but the whole thing could have been avoided if I used the right procedure.
 
It's kind of cool, when you get the edge thin enough with a very even thinness. Ya get a very uniform wavy edge that can not be ground straight again. ;)

I had to do that a few times, before I decide to stop doing it...
 
Salem Straub said:
Why does it have to be an order that's due on Monday?
Click to expand...

It's simple, the likelihood of something going wrong is inversely proportional to the amount of time allotted for the job. I like to figure an honest ready-date and add at least 30 days. A former colleague had this sign above his desk: "Fastest turnaround... best price... highest quality. Pick any TWO."

I'm with the majority on avoiding deposits whenever possible; if most cases, if you need to go into debt with the client (and that's exactly what it is - believe me, whether you think so or not, that's certainly how they'll look at it) you're probably taking on the wrong project.

EDIT: then again I don't do much with gold fittings, engraving, super-exotic handle materials, etc...
 
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