Suggestions for cutting tempered 1055

[grand594]

I'm wanting to turn a CS GI Tanto into a wharncliff. I have shape in mind, and have drawn it out to scale, I'm just wondering what device I should use to avoid heating the blade up: hack saw, air cutting wheel, band saw. I have modded several knives, but nothing to the scale that I'm attemtping. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE AWESOME!

Pictures to come...

 

[Komitadjie]

Honestly, I would use a belt grinder with a good, aggressive belt. Make a couple passes and cool it in water, repeat until you'e done. No different than grinding a new tip onto a blade to repair a broken-off point, in principle. Just take your time, don't rush it, and if you feel ANY heat building up, dunk it! With the Kalamazoo and a 60-grit Blaze, I'd bet you could do it safely in 5 minutes or less with no heating at all.

EDIT: A hack saw won't touch it, the blade is most likely harder than the hacksaw's edge. If all else fails, I'd be happy to do some grinding for you if you're in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm sure you'll find plenty of other guys willing to help out wherever you live.

 

[PB Wilson]

A file will work. I reshaped a couple knives to better suit my needs and it works well with a new one.

 

[richard j]

Honestly, I would use a belt grinder with a good, aggressive belt. Make a couple passes and cool it in water, repeat until you'e done. No different than grinding a new tip onto a blade to repair a broken-off point, in principle. Just take your time, don't rush it, and if you feel ANY heat building up, dunk it! With the Kalamazoo and a 60-grit Blaze, I'd bet you could do it safely in 5 minutes or less with no heating at all.

EDIT: A hack saw won't touch it, the blade is most likely harder than the hacksaw's edge. If all else fails, I'd be happy to do some grinding for you if you're in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm sure you'll find plenty of other guys willing to help out wherever you live.

+1 for the belt sander. i cut about 7" off a machete for a member a few months ago and there is no way a file or saw would have done the job.