Working with old planer blades

wall e said:
What I am in need of is the slickest and fastsest way to get a mirror shine on a blade I made.
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Mirror shines do not come quickly. You're going have to just handsand the blade and it will not be a true mirror shine either. It'll be what I refer to as a "reflective finish".

With that said, I know that planer blades can make decent knives if one goes very slowly. While grinding the steel, don't just dip it in water when it gets too hot to touch..dip it after every pass once you start the grinds (bevels).

The only successful knife I've made so far was from a industrial planner blade. Based on its properties, I'm thinking it's actually a grade of stainless although I have no way of telling what kind other than high carbon. It cuts better than the knives I've been using and I haven't had the need to sharpen it in quite a while. The thickness is a issue though, but I gave it a hollow grind so that helped a bit. The dimensions you gave sounds quite a bit smaller then the one I used though, so the material is probably different as well.

Either way, I'd suggest against looking for 'quick ways' of doing things-especially when using unknown steels. It's just not going to happen.
 
Lone fortress, I was shown thats how to grind a ht and tempered steel or blade to not lose the temper. Once these blades turn cobalt blue they are done and have to be re tempered. Thank you for the generous bit of reality and knowledge of the fact that making knives and fast dont happen. The knife I am asking about has a satin sheen ti it so far and am trying for a cloudy reflective for the simple fact of, thats the best it will get.
 
These are great cutting knives and make great skinning knives for the fact of they hold an edge for a long time. 3 elk and 2 deer before the blade had to be touched up. Was the last report I was given on a knife my grandfather made.
 
I knew an old guy years ago in Skagway, AK who used planer blades on his knives before he retired. I'm not sure of his technique, but I do know he used them in their original temper and didn't have to re-HT them. He sold them all over the place up here and they are considered to be excellent knives. Wish I could remember his name. He was a neat guy to talk to...
 
I'm in
wall e said:
Am making knives from some old planer blades due to the simple fact I am limited on what I can afford. Im just starting into knife making and only have a sander and an angle grinder for shaping. No funds yet for ht or oven., I am building a forge but is slowly coming along.😆 If any one has a quick way of shining these blades it would be welcome tips.
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I'm in the same boat you are. My buddy just game me about 50 planner blades from the mill he works at. I have make for or five knives out of them so far. They are a bear to grind if you don't anneal them. I anneal them and then headed treat them again. Once treated and sharpened, they hold a crazy edge. You can get a mirror finish on them. With progressions of Sand paper. Start with 100 grit work up to 2500. I would post some pictures but don't know how.
 
Dennis.R.Smith said:
I'm in

I'm in the same boat you are. My buddy just game me about 50 planner blades from the mill he works at. I have make for or five knives out of them so far. They are a bear to grind if you don't anneal them. I anneal them and then headed treat them again. Once treated and sharpened, they hold a crazy edge. You can get a mirror finish on them. With progressions of Sand paper. Start with 100 grit work up to 2500. I would post some pictures but don't know how.
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Most of planer blade are HSS steel , how you anneal them ?It is note easy task to do that ....
 
Welcome Dennis,
This thread is six years old. Always look at the date of the original post and the recent ones before resurrecting an old dead thread.

Planer blades are not good for knives for most makers. HSS doesn't HT well without ovens and proper slow annealing (many hours cooling at 25-50° per hour from 1650° to below 1200°). Even if you make a knife out of one, the internal structure may be a real crap shoot. Besides, the electricity, belts,and time are probably more than buying good knife steel.
Free is only good if it also equals quality.
 
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