- Joined
- Feb 9, 2018
- Messages
- 100
I've been casually making knives for three years now and I've been using TKS heat treating service. I started using them in the last year when I started using stainless because they were the cheapest I could find. I noticed that there isn't really any discussion about them.
I have sent them five knife blanks (2x 440-c, 1x s30-v, 1x CPM 4v, and 1x A-2) at this point and I'd say they aren't perfect, but they're good for what you pay. I was most happy with the 4v, maybe that's just 4v being awesome, or they managed to get it above the 57-58 they say they aim for, but it has held an edge forever and was very hard to grind with Alumina belts. When you call, you get a quick answer from an employee there in the shop, I've spoken to a number of people there and they all seem plenty personable. They are also pretty open to just chatting with you about your steels and heat treating so it was nice to chew their ear for a bit as a newbie.
The service they provide breaks down into different categories by steel, additional "bells and whistles" like a cryo treatment cost extra (but still less than other places). There isn't complementary Rockwell C testing but all of the knives I've gotten back seem to be around the 58 range just based on their feel on the grinder. I have had one knife come back warped and I was unable to correct it, so it became a grain size test if you know what I mean. That one could have been my fault, or could have been a bad piece of A-2 steel, but it didn't seem like they tried correcting it much.
I recently sent them 6 blades that should be arriving there today and I will update when I get them back. They were 1x CTS-XHP, 3x 440c, 2x Elmax. I asked them to aim for 60-62 on the XHP and Elmax so I will try to gauge with the grinder if they feel harder than the 440c. I figure this will be the real test, 57 is fine for an outdoors knife but for EDC and kitchen stuff I need higher hardness.
So in summary I have been generally happy with what they offer for the price, If I am not happy with this next batch I will probably switch to PETERS but If it works out I would certainty recommend them for anyone on a budget, a new maker, or someone who isn't just aiming for the highest hardness.
Best regards,
"XMK"
I have sent them five knife blanks (2x 440-c, 1x s30-v, 1x CPM 4v, and 1x A-2) at this point and I'd say they aren't perfect, but they're good for what you pay. I was most happy with the 4v, maybe that's just 4v being awesome, or they managed to get it above the 57-58 they say they aim for, but it has held an edge forever and was very hard to grind with Alumina belts. When you call, you get a quick answer from an employee there in the shop, I've spoken to a number of people there and they all seem plenty personable. They are also pretty open to just chatting with you about your steels and heat treating so it was nice to chew their ear for a bit as a newbie.
The service they provide breaks down into different categories by steel, additional "bells and whistles" like a cryo treatment cost extra (but still less than other places). There isn't complementary Rockwell C testing but all of the knives I've gotten back seem to be around the 58 range just based on their feel on the grinder. I have had one knife come back warped and I was unable to correct it, so it became a grain size test if you know what I mean. That one could have been my fault, or could have been a bad piece of A-2 steel, but it didn't seem like they tried correcting it much.
I recently sent them 6 blades that should be arriving there today and I will update when I get them back. They were 1x CTS-XHP, 3x 440c, 2x Elmax. I asked them to aim for 60-62 on the XHP and Elmax so I will try to gauge with the grinder if they feel harder than the 440c. I figure this will be the real test, 57 is fine for an outdoors knife but for EDC and kitchen stuff I need higher hardness.
So in summary I have been generally happy with what they offer for the price, If I am not happy with this next batch I will probably switch to PETERS but If it works out I would certainty recommend them for anyone on a budget, a new maker, or someone who isn't just aiming for the highest hardness.
Best regards,
"XMK"