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Whats the blue mean; if anything?

Phil Gibbs said:
Way to amplify a hangover Moose!! :p

OK, here is my take, & you are not going to like it!! :D

I cannot tell from the pics, sorry.
However, maybe we can figure it out together.

Here is the sequence of operations:

1. Laser cut from strips of 0170-6C
2. Stress Relief (anneal to address heat affected zone from laser cut - basically the laser cutting operation produces a zone of 0.005" - 0.010" around the edge of the part that is VERY HARD!) Without this anneal, stamping the logo & straightening the blade would create micro-cracks (Bad!)
Just ask Uncle Ethan about the first Becker Bush Hogs he tested! :barf:
3. Stamp logo
4. Straighten Blade (level)
5. Harden blade in vat of molten lead (blade is hardened, tang is not)
6. Temper blade
7. Machine grind blade
8. Powder coat blade
9. Assemble handles, sharpen, strop........... yada yada!

(Please note I have simplified the routing by omitting several irrelevant steps of cleaning/degreasing/tumbling/QC etc for clarity)

OK, based on OP's observation of the blade being blue, IMHO it has either completed operation #3(& or 4) or #6.

How can we narrow it down further?

When I look closely at the pics I see what may be residual lead present (especially in the stamp). This of course would imply the blade had been hardened. Try scraping the residue out of the stamp impression, if it falls out easily it is corn cob flakes from tumbling/degreasing; if it is well stuck in there, it is lead.

To hell with opinions, let's test it!

I recommend we test in the edge area of the blade so if we mark it future blade grinding will cover it.
Try filing it with a fine metal file; if the file cuts it, it is soft; if the file squeals & removes nothing it is hard.

Don't have a fine metal file handy?
OK, hit the edge of the blade with a hammer (or back of another Becker, or Smatchet or....) very hard!
If the edge dents, it is soft.
If the fillings in your teeth vibrate out, it is hard! :thumbup:

If you need to be totally certain, ship the blade to me & I will measure the hardness (I bought the Rockwell tester at the auction! :p)

If I had to bet, I would guess the blade is fully hardened & tempered & ready for grinding.

If I am wrong, I will buy all Beckerheads at Blade a drink.
If I an right, I will buy all Beckerheads at Blade 2 drinks.
Click to expand...

THIS is one of the MANY reasons I like to spend time here. This is a highly detailed response from an individual who knows what the hell he's talking about. The amount of info we can gather here simply amazes me. Who knows what that blueish tint is, but I'm interested in watching this thread and finding out... :)
 
MikeyJ said:
THIS is one of the MANY reasons I like to spend time here. This is a highly detailed response from an individual who knows what the hell he's talking about. The amount of info we can gather here simply amazes me. Who knows what that blueish tint is, but I'm interested in watching this thread and finding out... :)
Click to expand...

The blueish tint is from the heat of either the annealing or (more likely) tempering operation.

The annealing temperature is much higher & normally results in a black coloring, but occasionally did result in a slight blue hue on some of the blades; hence my inability to say for sure the state of the blade based solely on the color.

So sorry my previous rambling post failed to make that clear. :o
 
Phil Gibbs said:
I will still buy you that drink, but I don't think I want to sit next to you! :p
Click to expand...

:D

Ya'll do know who Phil Gibbs is don't you?

I'm askin' a serious question here, and yeah, Gibbsy, we know you know who you are, or at least most of the time. :D

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
They didn't just make me a mod here for my looks or how I'm ehung. They did take that stuff into account though. :D

Moose
Click to expand...

And they still decided to make you a mod and everything. Man you must really have some connections.

:D
 
I have a few. :D

100_2316.jpg


Moose
 
Phil Gibbs said:
Way to amplify a hangover Moose!! :p

OK, here is my take, & you are not going to like it!! :D

I cannot tell from the pics, sorry.
However, maybe we can figure it out together.

Here is the sequence of operations:

1. Laser cut from strips of 0170-6C
2. Stress Relief (anneal to address heat affected zone from laser cut - basically the laser cutting operation produces a zone of 0.005" - 0.010" around the edge of the part that is VERY HARD!) Without this anneal, stamping the logo & straightening the blade would create micro-cracks (Bad!)
Just ask Uncle Ethan about the first Becker Bush Hogs he tested! :barf:
3. Stamp logo
4. Straighten Blade (level)
5. Harden blade in vat of molten lead (blade is hardened, tang is not)
6. Temper blade
7. Machine grind blade
8. Powder coat blade
9. Assemble handles, sharpen, strop........... yada yada!

(Please note I have simplified the routing by omitting several irrelevant steps of cleaning/degreasing/tumbling/QC etc for clarity)

OK, based on OP's observation of the blade being blue, IMHO it has either completed operation #3(& or 4) or #6.

How can we narrow it down further?

When I look closely at the pics I see what may be residual lead present (especially in the stamp). This of course would imply the blade had been hardened. Try scraping the residue out of the stamp impression, if it falls out easily it is corn cob flakes from tumbling/degreasing; if it is well stuck in there, it is lead.

To hell with opinions, let's test it!

I recommend we test in the edge area of the blade so if we mark it future blade grinding will cover it.
Try filing it with a fine metal file; if the file cuts it, it is soft; if the file squeals & removes nothing it is hard.

Don't have a fine metal file handy?
OK, hit the edge of the blade with a hammer (or back of another Becker, or Smatchet or....) very hard!
If the edge dents, it is soft.
If the fillings in your teeth vibrate out, it is hard! :thumbup:

If you need to be totally certain, ship the blade to me & I will measure the hardness (I bought the Rockwell tester at the auction! :p)

If I had to bet, I would guess the blade is fully hardened & tempered & ready for grinding.

If I am wrong, I will buy all Beckerheads at Blade a drink.
If I an right, I will buy all Beckerheads at Blade 2 drinks.
Click to expand...





Hey thanks Phil !!!!!


I have tried to taking a file to the blank and the blank didn't seem to even get a scratch on it. I have been grinding on it with a belt sander so I'll try again to see if it was just the laser cut edge.

I'll try to scribe out the stamp to see what comes out if anything.


I'll try to get some better pictures if you want. It's really a dark blue color, and the pictures really don't show it.
 
So I forwent the file test and I decided to scratch the stamp to look for lead. Guess what? I found some lead in the stamp. So that's a good thing right?
 
SWEET!!! I'm talking to a local maker. So I'm hoping to be able to go and use his grinder some time soon. That 1X30 cheapo HF belt sander is just taking for ever!!


Maybe I'll have to take a picture of the profile I want to put on it up.
 
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