The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

[Nathan the Machinist]

This reminds me of a video I saw years ago and reminds me to ask Nathan. I can't remember who the guy was but he's an old-school guy that makes knives and swords by hand. I tried to find him a while back and couldn't find his videos.

Anyway, he uses a long oil bath to quench his long knives and swords horizontally rather than dipping it vertically in an oil drum or bucket. He said that if your horizontal quench is aligned directly to magnetic North and South, and you quench the blade with the tip of the blade pointing to magnetic North, and the handle end pointing magnetic South of course, that the blade will not warp. Have you heard about that Nathan, and is there any truth to it? Thanks.

Good lord no

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Alright, Blues , for good measure, here is a question for Nathan:

Nathan, since you explained that the SDFK was heat treated at Peters using your recipe, do the blades warp for them sometimes, and do you know what they do with the blades if that happens ?

Thanks.

Yes, our protocol is very prone to warp. No, Peters does not straighten for us. We have some additional steps and all straightening is done here.

 

[000Robert]

Good lord no

Yeah, I thought it smelled a little fishy. Maybe that's why I can't find him on YT anymore.

 

[steelcitysixteen]

Have you ever considered offering denim micarta as a scale option? Do you think we could see this in the future? While I like the blue denim micarta, I REALLY like the green denim micarta.

 

[gunslinger387]

Not a question, a statement. I showed my SDFK to a non-knife friend. He only has one other quality knife and it’s a DEK1 (it was gift from a pretty amazing friend ) and he fell in love. He asked me to try and get him one. I’m glad these didn’t go to Amazon but you probably hit your target audience.

 

[Casinostocks]

Have you ever considered offering denim micarta as a scale option? Do you think we could see this in the future? While I like the blue denim micarta, I REALLY like the green denim micarta.

There was at least one, possibly a couple or a few, done many years ago (before this sub existed) for the OG-FK. IIRC, it was the blue denim micarta.

#stillnotnathan

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

The problem with blue micarta is, if it's a true phenolic-based micarta, the blue color is lost to the natural yellowing of the phenolic resin. If you see a denim blue micarta, it is probably epoxy base.

 

[Pàdruig]

Yikes, I see that I posted in that thread, but I stayed out of the controversy.

I never saw that thread before - now I wish I hadn't. Not because of the subject knife (which was fine) but because of the fellas who simply couldn't let things go - what a way to tank a thread and spoil something nice a guy was doing for his lady.


Nathan, on the topic of micarta - I have never given it much thought beyond the material simply being awesome. Is there benefits to phenolic-based over epoxy-based, structurally speaking? The stuff that outfits like G.L. Hansen put out must be epoxy based due to their ability to retain the rich colors that their fabrics have.

 

[unwisefool]

Yes, our protocol is very prone to warp. No, Peters does not straighten for us. We have some additional steps and all straightening is done here.

Have you ever tried putting the warped blades between two books to straighten them out? Just so you know, it doesn't work as well with paperbacks.

 

[Organic556]

Hello Kind Sir, When will more boot daggers be on the “to do” list?

 

[8-Fingers]

What he said ^^^^

.

 

[RaiderJameson]

Hey nathan here is the drill bit mosaic pin
20220921_141921 by RJ Jameson, on Flickr

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Hey nathan here is the drill bit mosaic pin
20220921_141921 by RJ Jameson, on Flickr

As a machinist, it appeals to me. I'm thinking I would like a three flute aluminum geometry endmill as a pin.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I never saw that thread before - now I wish I hadn't. Not because of the subject knife (which was fine) but because of the fellas who simply couldn't let things go - what a way to tank a thread and spoil something nice a guy was doing for his lady.


Nathan, on the topic of micarta - I have never given it much thought beyond the material simply being awesome. Is there benefits to phenolic-based over epoxy-based, structurally speaking? The stuff that outfits like G.L. Hansen put out must be epoxy based due to their ability to retain the rich colors that their fabrics have.

Micarta is more abrasion resistant than g10 even though g10 has all those glass fibers in it. It's because g10 is epoxy base but micarta is phenolic.

The phenolic has a less plasticky tactile feel, it is almost like wood in your hand


Epoxy can be had clear and remain clear. That is an aesthetic consideration. I normally prefer not to make material choices based on appearance. Especially when phenolic based micarta is so attractive. But it does limit your color range.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Have you ever tried putting the warped blades between two books to straighten them out? Just so you know, it doesn't work as well with paperbacks.

Yes. I put a blade between the holy Bible and the IRS tax code. It scares them straight.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Hello Kind Sir, When will more boot daggers be on the “to do” list?

The next time I have a big honking blade with a big honkin material drop and something with some thickness to it so I can get those deep hollows I like

 

[Fixall]

If I could find that by a quality American manufacturer, I would be happy to get some.

It’s not the safety orange that people are probably looking for…. But I have a couple of 12” x 12” x 1/4” sheets of Burnt Orange Micarta from Pop’s that I’d be happy to send your way.

 

[Grenock]

Yes. I put a blade between the holy Bible and the IRS tax code. It scares them straight.

Now if we could just get Casinostocks to stay in between those books……..

 

[woodysone]

Now if we could just get Casinostocks to stay in between those books……..

Must have been asleep when the love fest started between you two, the question is when will it be resolved?

 

[Blues]

Must have been asleep when the love fest started between you two, the question is when will it be resolved?

When Turkey and Armenia go out to dinner together.