Micro Mini Crack Blues......

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
After spending close to 4 days working on the largest bowie blade I've made so far this year while giving it the final rub I noticed this tiny little curved line on the edge 3" down from the point. You know that feeling you get when you discover something you'd wish just wasn't there. I'm almost afraid to go out to the shop and find out its the truth. I've never had a crack that hid for so long. Normally if there's a crack I catch them way before this stage. Now I'll have to make a blade to go with the fittings and the handle since there all done.
 
Make sure its a crack Ray. I had what I thought was a crack that turned out to be some alloy streak in the steel. Put it in a vise to finish it off and it bent 80 dgrees and the edge snapped nowhere near the streak. Usually oil will tell you for sure. It will pool on the edge of a real crack when you wipe some on a warm blade.
 
Ray,

What Greg said. If it's 5160, I've seen some inclusions that look like a fine hair or a small crack. Don't give up on that blade yet, be sure to check it out first. ;)

- Mike
 
The blade was W-2 and it was a crack forsure. I've never run across one so small that didn't show up sooner. I now have a two piece bowie blade. Maybe I'll make a screwdriver out of it.
 
Yeah...the higher carbon stuff like that will surprise you like that if you hot it too cold.....01, 52100, and W series....

I have some 5160 that has the inclusions and they appear usually right at the finish mark......it will go into damascus instead.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top