Working with CPM1V.

J

James Lechago

Joined
May 23, 2000
Messages
44
I recall reading a thread a while ago in which Jerry Hossom explained that he was working with a piece of CPM's newest and probably toughest tool steel. I did a search on this steel and found little more than some technical data and some speculation. That was good enough for me. I got on the phone and called CPM's local representative and they told me that there was some of this steel that they could cut for me that was of suitable thickness for making a knife. How thick? They were conservative when they said it was half an inch thick. Now I have a piece of CPM1V that is eighteen inches long, two and a half inches wide and just over half an inch thick to make into a knife. I've decided that a chopping blade would be most appropriate.
Mr. Hossom, I was wondering how your blade was coming along. Have you run into any problems with this steel so far? I am quite new at making blades (stock removal). I have made a few, mostly out of 440V, for friends and family. Any advice on how to approach this steel, especially during heat treatment would be much appreciated.
Is anyone else out there experimenting with this steel? Anyone who wants to discuss this steel or has any suggestions or questions please jump in. I would appreciate any knowledge or experience that you would be willing to impart.
 
Sorry, I missed the thread. I am only about half done with my first knife in 1V, meaning it is still not fully shaped. It has been a bear to work with. Just cutting out the blade with my bandsaw has taken about twice as long as with other CPM's. The piece I have is 1/4" thick, and the knife I'm making from it is 12" OAL. I think your first challenge with be finding someone to grind that piece down to knife-size dimensions - 1/4" thick or less. Otherwise, it's just like working your 440V only much worse. It's defintely not the steel I would recommend for new knifemakers. IMHO, a new knifemaker is well served by working with an easier steel until he has a good handle on the crafting issues, then try something tougher. I still do all my prototyping in 154CM for that very reason.
 
You certainly are right about the difficulty in working with this metal. However I don't know if the thickness of the material is more of an issue than the steel itself. I have figured out how to deal with the problem of thickness, at least to a degree.
I've already cut out the general shape of the blade using an angle grinder, and then finished the edges with a belt grinder and a drum attachment on a drill. It took a long time to do this but not as long as I was afraid it might take. I thought I might be able to grind the blade thinner more easily if I were to cut a grid pattern into it on both sides with the angle grinder. This would take a good deal of work but it would be better than trying to grind it completely on the belt grinder. I assume that cutting the pattern onto the blade would allow me to reduce the actual surface area being cut substantially. What do you think?
By the way, you are right about my choice of steels but since I have already paid for it, I may as well finish it. Looks like I'm going to be buying lots of sanding belts. ;)
 
I think your idea of reducing the surface area makes a lot of sense, but it's still likely to be a whole lot of work. You could probably get a part time job to pay for a whole lot of 154Cm easier than finishing 18" of 1/2" thick CPM-1V. :)
 
I agree completely with your position, but imagine all the fun it will be to test the blade after it had been finished.:D
I almost forgot to mention that I will only be thinning down the last eleven to twelve inches that will comprise the riccasso and the blade. I am curious to see what this will do to the final weight distribution of the knife once it is finished. The slabs for the handle will be ground very thin, like a folder. If I can grind the blade thin enough I may be able to make a very 'quick' little chopping knife.
 
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