talonite? what do you think?

L

L.K.Smithy

Joined
May 22, 2007
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273
has anyone worked with talonite or other cobalt type metals? can it be forged? is it worth a damn? anything i should know about working with it? is there something like talonite thats better? it sounds cool to me, and id like to get my hands on some. if you please, any thoughts or comments would be great, especially if you have worked with it. thanks all!
-Lou
 
I have used David Boye's dendritic cobalt for stock removal blades. The only advantage is it being non-magnetic and non-corrosive. It is not all that hard to work as far as grinding goes. Cost is a bit high.

What purpose are you considering it for?
Stacy
 
thanks for the reply. Im just interested in a material thats so diffrent from steel. curious to see how it behaves.
George Tichbourne, what about heat treating it?
-Lou
 
No heat treating required, must be worked at red heat or higher, as soon as it cools a bit it stops moving. You will be reheating it every half dozen hammer blows.
 
Yes, I meant to post that you just grind, sand, polish, and you are done. There is no hardening.
Stacy
 
I am not a knifemaker but I do own a few offshoot of talonite. I have two cobalt blades by Boye, a talonite folder by Schrade and another by Rekat. I like them! Holds and edge and easy to sharpen.
 
compared to a good carbon steel though, whats it like? i imagine it isnt any better or it would be highly sought after. i think i'll be getting a piece for Christmas to myself. sounds interesting.
-Lou
 
I have knives made from 6K, Boye Dendritic Cobalt and Talonite. I cannot tell a difference between the alloys. It is an interesting blade material. My comments a directed at Talonite.

Talonite works great for some uses and is a poor choice for others. The material hardness is in the mid 40's RC. This is the hardness of the cobalt. Within the cobalt are harder carbides. As the softer cobalt wears away the harder carbides are exposed.

When used for a kitchen, skinning or caping knife Talonite will hold an edge up to five times longer than steel. However, if used as a boning or camp knife the material fails. The relatively soft cobalt does not support the edge. The result is a rolled edge. I've never seen Talonite chip.

Another attribute of Talonite is high lubricity. It is very slippery. When grinding be sure to use new belts. A dull belt will slide off with cutting. The result is a hot billet with a few scratch marks. I've been cut by Talonite several times without knowing I've been cut. I think the high lubricity is why I don't know I've been cut. The times I've known I was cut the blade did not drag in the cut like steel does.

If you want to forge Talonite keep in mind it will maintain a sharp edge for 5 hours at 2,000º. You have to get it very hot. We were working at a bright yellow heat and it moved very little.

I think stock removal is the most effective way to use this material. I've noticed a convex grind on the edge minimizes edge rolling. Many times the edge will not feel sharp but will cut very well.

Talonite Advantages:
It will not rust. Saltwater, blood and acidic foods will not corrode the blade. If used for the correct purpose it hold an edge for a long time. It does not leave a metallic taste on foods. No heat treating is required. It is easy to sharpen.

Talonite Disadvantages:
It is very expensive. If used incorrectly it is a poor blade material. It is very difficult to forge. It is available in limited thicknesses. Trying to finish a blade higher than 400 grit is difficult. It is non-magnetic so it will not stick to a magnetic chuck when surface grounding.

L.K.Smithy, Talk to knifemakers who use the material and ask them if it is highly sought after. ;)
 
very insightful, thank you! it sounds like it would be well suited as a slicing blade, used the way a saber would be as far as weaponry goes, and as a paring knife for delicate jobs in the kitchen. i was thinking utility knife but it looks like rough use is not what it is good for. thank you, i have some ideas now :)
-Lou
 
I use it for smaller bird and trout knives or folders because of the costs and inability to pry with the blade.

Market on larger blades is price sensitive and usually rules Stellite out.

Stellite can be ordered in almost any thicknesses you want.

If you discount the cost of your time forging is more cost effective than stock removal because no material to speak of is lost. As for your time, you probable had nothing better to do with it anyhow, unless you count the Honey Do list.
 
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