Quick check > order of grinding / filing / heat treat

[Dutch_Blades]

Hi all,

First time poster here, a Dutch guy learning how to forge knives.
Wanted to learn this craft for many years and bought a forge & anvil recently to start making stuff.
Forged a couple leafs from bar stock because thats what internet told me to do and now I started making a knife.

I think my first real try to forge a blade has been going quite well so far, using 02 steel

https://imgur.com/a/n0QiF9d

https://imgur.com/a/XRTh71s

Shape is not great but at least the bevel is a lot thinner than the spine and the spine tapers near the tip.
Works for now. Need to staighten the tip a bit more.
Next step would be to create a good bevel. I've started using a filing jig because I dont have a belt grinder.
Im waiting on new files since the onces I had where no good, or maybe I accidentally air hardened the steel, the file wasn't really cutting (is that possible??)

My real question is: how thin can I go with the edge before heat treating the knife?
It currently is at 2mm and I have to do some more filing to get a half decent bevel.
I think filing AFTER heat treat wouldnt be the best idea since it would destroy the file and would take ages, or not?

For my peace of mind, the steps would be:
- filing the bevels
- drill holes for handle
- normalising
- hardning
- tempering
- lots and lots of hand sanding
- putting on the handle
- sharpening

Anything I'm missing here?

Thanks for the advice!

Roy

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welcome to Shop Talk. Fill out your profile so we have some info on you.

2mm at the edge is too thick pre-HT. You can go half that - 1mm - and still be on the thicker side. I go to .75mm before HT.

After HT you sand the blade thinner with good grade silicon carbide sandpaper. Wrap it around a block of hard wood or aluminum to give a hard surface backing.

Your plan looks good. Keep us posted as you go with pictures and any questions.