Liquid-metal. how did it go?

M

M Wadel

Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
801
is liquid metal used for blades these days? any other products? would liquid metal be good for straight razors?
 
Good question. You'd think someone might try it for a chopper (so I surmise, but maybe I'm lookin' at the properties wrong).
 
There were a number of threads on Liquid Metal when it first came out that looked at both the theoretical aspects as well as the actual experiences of knifemakers working with the material.

My two cents would be that for LM-1, the interesting application would be for those that require casting of fine details (e.g. thousands of tiny teeth).

And for a bonus two cents, the last time I looked at future non-steel knife materials, I thought ceramics had a better future than amorphous metals for, say, typical folder use.
 
IMHO, folks got caught up with LM making a better knife.
The real beauty of the technology is that LM makes a good knife but in a method (casting) that is way easier to mass produce.
 
Ebbtide said:
IMHO, folks got caught up with LM making a better knife.
The real beauty of the technology is that LM makes a good knife but in a method (casting) that is way easier to mass produce.
Click to expand...

Ebbtide, I agree totally. Not that I am saying the stuff is an inferior material; I really don't know. But to me the real potential is the ability to easily make it into very complex shapes that would otherwise be very expensive to produce.

Here's an example just to illustrate:
ph-0.jpg

Take a look at the way those multiple fullers converge, and the elaborate carving in the steel at the base. Not to mention the overall shape of the curved blade would require big bars of steel & lots of waste for a factory.
Or take a look at the combination of fullers and piercings on this dirk:
dirk04.jpg

But this sort of thing could be done with liquid metal basically as easily as other simple shapes. Think of piercings, fullers, curves, "nightmare" grinds, reinforcing ridges, three dimensional effects, starting out with a very thick base & lots of distal taper, etc.

edit- I've seen some of this done to a limited extent with metal injection molding (MIM) in other related industries, and Kershaw is using that process on at least one of their folders now, but again, I feel they aren't realizing its potential.
 
liquid metal, from samples that i've handled at shows, very light and won't make a good chopper (not enough weight in the swing), but would be simply incredible as a carry knife whether as folder or fixed blade. easy to mass production (with right equipment) possibility and light in the pocket.
 
I dont know this liquid metal you speak of. You arent just talking of molten metal?
 
Liquid metal later cooled is more fragile than regular steel.

Liquid metal is more used for pieces.
That's what my material teacher told us.
 
I don't believe that's the experience of the knifemakers who worked with it, but I wasn't able to find an old thread on it.
 
Liquid metal's original formulation contained Berilyum. Because of some toxic properties it is a controled material in much of the world. New formulations were being develeoped to eliminate this component. It good stuff for golf clubs, marginal for knives; I don't believe the edge holding would even be to Beta Titainium performance...Take Care...Ed
 
I just read everythiing BF had on this LM1. What is strange is that RW Clark stopped posting on it in 2003 and he was the moving force here as he was making blades. Did he discover that is wasnt all he hoped for and gave up?

I couldnt even get his web site to resolve for me. Real X files kind of stuff!
 
Ed Schempp said:
I don't believe the edge holding would even be to Beta Titainium performance.
Click to expand...

Yes, I compared a LM1 blade to many steel blades and even low end ones like the $0.25 replacement blades for Olfa knives had much better edge retention. This is reflected in the materials properties as they are horrible compared to cutlery grade steels. It is both soft/weak and brittle. As for casting, it seems kind of pointless to cast in such a material as the user properties are not there unless you are looking at just an art piece and for high end pieces then unless you are looking at mass scale reproductions (like prints) you are usually paying exactly for the maker skill to craft the details.

-Cliff
 
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