Stellite 6K

george tichbourne

george tichbourne

Joined
Apr 19, 1999
Messages
3,560
I got my hands on a piece of this material about a week ago to evaluate for possible inclusion in my line and got around to grinding it today.

I love this stuff, it grinds well with a sharp aluminum oxide belt, finishes quickly with 240 grit greaseless compound and polishes to a near mirror with a 400 grit cork belt followed by a quick buff with green stainless steel cut and colour compound. The finish as I said is near mirror with a touch of softness to it caused by the grain structure of the metal, probably best described as a semi gloss finish. Drilling goes very quickly with a carbide twist drill and a little slower with a carbide spade drill but it drills cleanly.

I have decided to mount double bolsters of polished damasteel and acid etch the entire blade with the bolsters attached after assembly because a test showed that the blade is unaffected by the muriatic acid. Neutralizing the acid afterwards will take a day or so to let the baking soda solution soak under the bolsters. Scales will probably be mastodon.

I will post a scan when it is finished.
 
That stelite should give you some real fine edge holding George! The description you gave of the materials to be used sure sounds like it will be a real winner too !! Regards Frank.
 
OK here is a scan of the knife scales are in place temporarily and blade is not serrated, that is just an optical illusion from the scanner.

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The only thing that I regret is that I cannot file the material. I will have to try diamond bits in my dremmel to do a little file work on the top edge of the blade.

I am now going to remove the scales and soak the blade and bolsters in water and baking soda for a couple of days to neutralize the last of the muriatic acid. I was able to etch the bolsters after assembly because the stellite is not affected by the acid.
 
Beautiful! You're right - filework would certainly add to it!
 
Very nice, George. Great combo of materials! Will you be testing the performance yourself? I'd be interested to hear what you think.
 
I have the feeling that it is going to end up in someone's collection as soon as it is finished (Carol is making those collecting sounds again). If so I will not be allowed to cut rope, or anything else for that matter, with it. It sure takes a fine edge, shaving sharp in fact, but the fellows in Belleville tell me that edge goes away quickly to be replaced by a fine toothy edge that just keeps on cutting. That fine grain structure is interesting to work with when you begin polishing or drilling, it makes grinding or drilling very smooth, not grabby like stainless at all.
 
Well I got some time to filework the blade today. Used a dremel tool with an abrasive cutoff wheel to mark out pattern, a carbide burr to rough in pattern and diamond bits to smooth out the carbide burr roughness. After repolishing it came out looking very special. I will post the photo here later after Carol has had time to scan it.

That does it Stellite 6K has been added to my line (in smaller sizes like this one only), I ordered more material today.
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