Should I or not?

D

DERRICK

Joined
Nov 24, 2000
Messages
32
I'm really keen to make knives, well folders to be precise as I have been a knife enthusiast as long as I can remember. Soon I'll have access to a range of power tools and grinders and such (in Hungary) but my only problem is that the only source of heat would be an oxy-acetylene torch and no real chance of using an oven. I dont like to do things half correct so should I start making blades and attempt differential hardening or any other suggestions would help. The blades would be a max. of 4 inches and steel material would not be a problem. Also anyone knows of knifemaking supplies in Europe where I may get some blanks or stock material as ordering from the USA would kill me on shipping. Any help is appreciated as I'm keen as anything to star making folders that I can put a part of me into.
Thanks
Derrick
 
Derrick, by all means go ahead and start making knives, hardening 4 inch blades with an oxy/acetylene torch should be no problem. You won't be able to heat treat the stainless steels yourself however, they require a heat treating oven for optimum performance. There is an American knife maker who lives in Germany, I beleive his name is Kevin Wilkins (I'm not sure about that name!) who used to post here quite a bit but I haven't seen him lately. I will try to find his web address for his site, I'm sure he could direct you to suppliers on the continent. -Guy Thomas

I was right, his name is Kevin Wilkens, and here is a link to his Links and Suppliers page of his site:

http://www.wilkins-knives.com/Links.html

He is a graphic designer also so his site is nicely done with lots of information. Take care!



[This message has been edited by Silent (edited 12-26-2000).]
 
Thanks for the swift reply!
A little encouragement goes a long way and I will start making one of my designs. Maybe I can find some metalshop where they may help if I slip them a few bucks, one never knows!
Thanks for the link I'll check them out asap.
Hope I can post a pic soon of the finished piece.
Thanks
Derrick
 
Derrick,

I agree go ahead and get started making folders. Believe me I am nowhere near an expert and the more I find out the more I realize I need to learn. But I disagree with silent, you can us the oxy / act torch to harden 440C stainless steel and then if the wife will let you, temper it in the kitchen oven.

I now use a furnace or oven, as of a month ago, to harden and temper my blades. And by the way I have managed to screw up more steel in the last month than I have in the several years prior, getting use to this furnance.
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Here are a couple of folders I made with a oxy/act torch and the wifes kitchen oven.

View


View



------------------
Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!

[This message has been edited by Shotgunone (edited 12-26-2000).]
 
Thanks Shotgunone!
I look forward to making my designs and thanks for the encouragement. Very nice folders hope mine will turn out half as good!Can you expand on using the kitchen oven for heat treating as I don't have a wife and can do pretty much anything in the kitchen (well apart from cooking, I just keep the beer in there!)
Thanks for the help
Derrick
 
Hey Shotgunone, I did say "optimum" in my post!
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. I stand corrected, I have heard of hardening 440c with torches, and I think every knifemaker should play around with heat treating various materials. For best results I think most people would agree that stainless steels require the ability to hold the blade at set temperatures for extended periods for optimum performance. I fully intend to try hardening 440c myself if I ever finish the knife I am working on!
smile.gif
-Guy Thomas
 
Derrick,

When I was talking about the oven it was not to heat treat but to temper after heat treating. For me I would heat 440 C to almost a translucent orange color. Harden the spine first and heat slowly or it will warp like the Starship Enterprise. Air quench rapidly in front of a fan or air conditioner if you have one. Then draw the steel twice in the kitchen oven at 400 degrees twice for one hour each time.

Guy,

Sorry, I didn't mean to step on toes or anything and you did say "optimum".
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You will notice that I also went to a furnace. A furnace or oven is definately better once you get the hang of it. But I did totally burn up a bunch of steel in the furnace to the point it was hard to believe it was a knife before I got it figured out. Still not sure I got it figured out.
smile.gif
Worse thing I ever did with a tourch was melt the spine a little.

Guess the point I wanted to make is there is more than one way to skin a cat if you want to.

Tony

------------------
Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!

[This message has been edited by Shotgunone (edited 12-27-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Shotgunone (edited 12-27-2000).]
 
Thanks Tony
I'll be sure to try that one. I take it that you would not suggest oil or water quenching after heating with the torch. Is that not a good idea? Thanks for the tip on the spine hardening but what if I want to leave the spine soft? Do I have to anneal it after?
Not to worry I'll do some practice runs.
Thanks for the info.
Derrick
 
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