Hahah, I guess it does look different, but it's a very purpose driven pikal.
Hey, those are very nice. You give me some hope <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am about to start trying to make knives and I know when i start I'll have some questions...I was going to ask you how you heat treat but it looks like someone is going to take care of that for you. Do you know if there are places that will do the HT for you if you send them your blades and $$$? I initially plan on buying and working with steel that has already been heat treated. But eventually, I'd like to start from the raw metal and go through the whole process.
All of your knives look great. Did you do your main profiling with the hack saw and files? Then use the belt grinder for the more detailed stuff? It looks to me like the hardest part of the process is getting the blade grind correct and even but I won't know until I get started in a couple weeks.
Please post pictures as you progress and of the finished product. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Thanks.
Different steel have different HT process. O-1 steel for example, I know a lot of people make little brick furnaces and heat the steel until it is demagnetized and then cool it down in oil, then temper it in the oven for a couple hours to get it to the correct hardness. Or you can send it to a professional, and the one that many people/companies send their knife to is Paul Bos. He'll do single blades or a bunch of them. His site:
http://www.bosservicesheattreating.com/index2.html, prices:www.buckknives.com/resources/pdf/Paul_Bos_Brochure.pdf
Steel that's already been HTed can be difficult to work with because it's harder, gets hot faster, and you can ruin the HT if you apply to much heat.
I used a hacksaw to get as close as I could to the profile and then grind to save the belts. A 1x42 sander with a 1/3hp motor isn't the best for hogging off steel so you need to compromise.
The hardest part for me is to make the plunge line how I want it. After the plunge line, getting the main bevel even on both sides takes practice, but it'll work it self out as long you grind consistently on both sides.
Nice blades MRpink! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
I used to enjoy making blades... just don't have the time these days though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
I'd love to see some of the stuff you made if you got any pictures. Yes it is very time consuming, it'll be a while before I have some time to grind again.
lookin good, pink. how you cutting your choils?
I have a few different Nicholson files I picked up from OSH. You definitely need a wire brush to clean the files after it stops biting. Also, a tip I found as I was working with the files is to take a hacksaw and put a couple grooves where you want to file. It cuts a lot faster because there is less surface area to file, and it won't clog the files as quick.
Thanks for all the comments, I'll update the thread once I get more work done.