- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 368
First things first, my usual disclaimer. My skill level is beginning noob. I read a lot on here and elsewhere, then play around on the grinder on the weekends 
I enjoy making things but am not very good yet. Any knife I learn something on is a good knife, even if it goes in the trash bin.
Anyhow... This is a knife I learned some lessons but am not particularly pleased with how it came out. Before I move on, might as well add one more lesson to it and try to fix the bit of warp it picked up being dropped into the quench tank (I redid the heat treat after that). If I can get it straight I'll handle it and use it, if I mess it up worse ill just toss it. Its 3/16ths 1084 with a full flat grind and full tang.
First I put it between two large pieces of angle iron and put a penny at the high spot, then one at either end on the other side. Tightened it down which flexed the blade in the opposite shape of its bow. Put it in the oven at 435*F for two hours (10*F more than first temper) . It laughed at me and snapped right back how it was when cooled and taken out of the apparatus (yes I marked the sides so I wouldn't trick myself). I tried the same thing again with more pennies. Nada. Then I tried it at room temperature with a lot more bend, I worked it up as much as I feel confident doing with C clamps and shims before I have fear of it becoming a deadly projectile if something were to slip (my vice isn't wide enough for a ~10 inch blade). Blade wont take a set, hot or not. I did not try tempering it at the very high bend angles, would that be a bad idea? The only other thing I've read about would be smacking it with a hammer, but I'm not in a hurry to do that. Anything else I should try in the name of learning and experience before I move on?
I enjoy making things but am not very good yet. Any knife I learn something on is a good knife, even if it goes in the trash bin. Anyhow... This is a knife I learned some lessons but am not particularly pleased with how it came out. Before I move on, might as well add one more lesson to it and try to fix the bit of warp it picked up being dropped into the quench tank (I redid the heat treat after that). If I can get it straight I'll handle it and use it, if I mess it up worse ill just toss it. Its 3/16ths 1084 with a full flat grind and full tang.
First I put it between two large pieces of angle iron and put a penny at the high spot, then one at either end on the other side. Tightened it down which flexed the blade in the opposite shape of its bow. Put it in the oven at 435*F for two hours (10*F more than first temper) . It laughed at me and snapped right back how it was when cooled and taken out of the apparatus (yes I marked the sides so I wouldn't trick myself). I tried the same thing again with more pennies. Nada. Then I tried it at room temperature with a lot more bend, I worked it up as much as I feel confident doing with C clamps and shims before I have fear of it becoming a deadly projectile if something were to slip (my vice isn't wide enough for a ~10 inch blade). Blade wont take a set, hot or not. I did not try tempering it at the very high bend angles, would that be a bad idea? The only other thing I've read about would be smacking it with a hammer, but I'm not in a hurry to do that. Anything else I should try in the name of learning and experience before I move on?
