Knife engineering book Question

From my experience it’s initially harder for people to grasp metallurgy and material science because it’s all happening at a microscopic level. It’s completely outside of people’s frame of reference. It makes more sense in a proper lab where you can actually see what’s happening.

One thing I do know is you forget a lot of it if you don’t use it for 20 years or so.

It’s good that you’re reading it while you’re just getting started. There’s a lot of good info in there but don’t get overwhelmed by it. It will start to make more sense as you go.
 
Larrin said:
Are you saying it was chapter 9 that was confusing? Or chapters 1-8?
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For me, on this re-reading, the thing that had gave me pause and had me going back and forth a bit was the variety of carbides in play. I think I was really working with a mental model of ferric carbide, chromium carbide and vanadium carbide, and that is it. To get a sense that we have all of these different carbide combinations certainly adds a level of complexity that I didn't follow at first and still haven't really internalized.

I don't think the problem was with your description of the material, though, Larrin.
 
Well I don't understand none of it. This one begat that one and that one begat this one, and lo and behold Larrin said some sh*t and a knife appeared... :cool:
 
I think his book is junk. It doesn't mention Troosite even once. :cool:

(Not sure if that is true, but metallurgical folks like Larrin smile politely when I mention Troosite. They probably think, OK, old timer,)
 
nicosteve said:
I'm reading Dr. Larrin Thomas's "Knife Engineering V2" and I am finding some of this information to be a bit overwhelming. I was wondering if there are any sources/videos you all have to help dumb it down a bit for me? I'm just starting chapter 9 (corrosion) and I feel that I've missed a lot of information. Maybe I just need to write stuff down or re-read, but if anyone has links that may help, I would love to see them. Thanks for your time!
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I have the 1st edition and read it cover to cover. However, this was before I'd ever made a blade and was researching. I don't think it was intended to be read like a novel but it is so much more than a reference. Overwhelming, sure, at times. That is when you set it down and come back later. I don't think there's a CliffNotes version & if there was, what's the point? Larrin's book has the details and isn't that why you bought it?
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I think his book is junk. It doesn't mention Troosite even once. :cool:

(Not sure if that is true, but metallurgical folks like Larrin smile politely when I mention Troosite. They probably think, OK, old timer,)
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Yes, the term troostite fell out of favor some time before you were born, but you still see it pop up in random places sometimes. It isn't used because it is another word for phases that already have terms. It was once thought to be a separate phase, before electron microscopy.
 
Electron microscopy, sounds like science fiction. At 1000X you lose all definition. I had a boyhood friend named Leuwenhoek who said he could see aliens in pond water. He was crazy, too.

Just having some fun. Your book and knowledge is very helpful to modern knifemaking.


"Lose, it's lose. How and when did people start typing loose when they mean lose?!"
Dang autocorrect - it is Lose, not loose!!! Changed it.
 
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