Making Meteorite Handmade Knives

[FallCreekFreak]

I got a slab of meteorite, I want to make a show knife out of it. Can I grind it on my grinder without losing the pattern? or do I need to grind it wet? How porous is this material? Should I buff it? Any knowledge about working this material in the raw would be greatly appriciated. Thanks, Roger.

 

[delbert ealy]

Roger,
Grind it slow and keep it cool.
You don't need to grind it wet, but if you overheat it the pattern will disappear. As far as the finish goes you should etch it.
Some meteorite has some cracking and inclusions, but I wouldn't call the stuff porous.
Hope this helps,
Thanks,
Del

 

[george tichbourne]

Grind it normally, sand smooth and etch with ferric chloride to restore the pattern. It cannot be heat treated because most meteorite lacks carbon.

 

[Caden_Vekk]

where do you get meteorite?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

From meteors that hit the ground !



Or ebay.

 

[Caden_Vekk]

how would forging it effect it

 

[Whoever Wherever]

forging meteroite usually causes it to crumble from what I have heard. There is a n article on meteorite damascus in this months Blade. Seems that when coupled with the right steel it forges just fine. Not shure of the technical mumbo jumbo behind said phenomenon. I think all meteorite knives I have seen have the meteorite made into damascus or the meteorite is in the handle. You can get meteorites from ebay, a quick search will turn up a few sellers with 100% feedback that specialize in meteorites.

 

[delbert ealy]

Warning! Opinion to follow
Caden,
I have forged 15-20 lbs of meteorite down for making damascus. It is definately the most challenging material I have worked. Tim Zowada did write an excellent article on making meteorite damascus, and he has forged alot more of the stuff into damascus than I have. It takes getting used to and at $100+ a pound I would not recommend it unless you have a good deal of experience making damascus.
As far as the meteorite in the damascus goes, it loses the cool windmanstatten pattern, but it has excellent contrast and its cool to have a usable blade with stuff that fell from the sky. I have been making a billet of it once a year, when the mood strikes me.
Thanks,
Del