Production question

Groush

Groush

Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
115
In the past 12 months I have acquired 8 Busse knives with a 9th on order. Works of art with a purpose. As a Manufacturing Engineer (Boilermaker), I am curious as to how your blanks are produced. Rolled steel or cast steel? If this is proprietary, I understand. Thanks.;)
 
That's a very interesting question--one I've wondered about, also. The only cast steel knife blade blanks I know of for certain are those of David Boye in Arizona, who touts the resulting huge grain size and large "dendritic" carbide crystal chains as imparting a "micro-serration" effect at the edge, meaning that sections of these chains of large carbides hold together in the edge as the softer matrix material wears away. This idea obviously contrasts sharply with the fine-grain theory that permeates most blade-steel thinking, which is accomplished in part by rolling steel or vacuum melting a powdered alloy mix.

I've never heard Busse make the kind of claim Boye makes, but we know INFI is amazingly wear resistant considering its elemental makeup, and I've wondered if casting might be involved. The INFI dimple effect at the surface of the steel is another aspect that might be explained by casting. Another question is how nitrogen is imparted to INFI steel as part of the alloy, and that seems to me to be another parameter that casting might account for. Could the nitrogen be added by induction in gaseous form into molten castings, or would it make more sense that it be added in ingot form? You can find speculation on this forum about these questions going back many years, but I believe the only sure answer available is yes, definitely proprietary.
 
Other companies are investment casting their blanks for the reasons you enumerated above, Spyderco for one. My mind is always asking how. Then I think, how about Infi scissors or lawn mower blades. Too costly? :D
Pics are posted thoughout the forum and in an album titled Busse.
 
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If I could get my hands on a pair of INFI shears, I think I would be the happiest girl ever!
 
I think they are hot rolled, then water jet cut out.

I feel like in my satin I can see longitudinal grain pattern.
 
Unicorns which are raised by Superman are fed a mixture of Diamonds and Adamantium. Their tears from trying to pass that mixture are collected and formed into bars. These bars are called INFI. ;)
 
Lexi, you are too funny. Hope you got caught up on your work and have a wonderful weekend.;)
 
Believe me, I am glad they do show up, the blanks I mean. :thumbup::thumbup: I have cast pistons, engine blocks, surgical staples utilizing aluminum, steel, and titanium. I love microstructure analysis and would liked to have studied under Mr. Busse. The point being I am interested in how things are made. Gearheadnerd. Please do not stop making knives for me, just because I want to know "where do the blanks come from"! :D :D
 
You want to know where they come from? The INFI gods gift them to us, its majestic and beautiful. Enough, in fact, to make any grown man cry ;)
 
Bigfattyt said:
I think they are hot rolled, then water jet cut out.

I feel like in my satin I can see longitudinal grain pattern.
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Agreed, they can be easily seen in some satin blades. I think they are the carbide grains.

While at Blade 09, I stopped at Bob Dozier's table. Some of the knives there had a very similar appearance, with visible grain structure. When I asked Bob about it, he explained that those were the carbides, and that was why D2 was known as such an aggressive cutter, due to the 'toothy' microstructure of carbides in the edge.

There are some Shop pics around here, that show mutliple CNC machines in the background. So it would seem that Busse blade blanks are cut on these mills, and then finished to varying degrees.
 
Lexi said:
The blanks come from the INFI God's. That is all I know. :)
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CROM!

10kRE72

http://gph.is/10kRE72
 
evltcat said:
You're too modest Garth! :)
We all know after you finish hand forging the INFI, you cut the blanks out by hand with your light sabre! :D
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I hate to tell you this but the day I actually get a real working lightsaber you guys arent gonna see me for awhile. I have some stuff I wanna do.

Garth
 
Just my gut feeling based on the fact that you do not have a serious answer by now. Nobody is ever going to tell you. :D
 
Bullcarver said:
Just my gut feeling based on the fact that you do not have a serious answer by now. Nobody is ever going to tell you. :D
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Visit the factory, if they offer tours, and see if they have forging hammers. For me personally it does not matter how the knives are made because they work. I think, however, it would be hyper cool to see a how to video of the knife making process.
 
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