Knives

[preachinpilot]

Okay so I make custom knives, yes one of ten thousand others. I am forging and grinding 1095, 1084, 52100 and W2 steels and I clay temper all my knives. The backs and tangs should be about 50 rhc. A guess only. easy to file. So for a border design and floral design what graver material and what point styles would you masters suggest. I don't mind working out the kinks but don't want to reinvent the wheel.

[SEngraver]

Hi Preachin Pilot

M42 or carbalt gravers are good and will take care of that V-116 template for all outline cutting and re-cutting V96 template for all shading then you can temper the knife,can you tell us more about "clay temper" and how it is done please ?
There is also the Ronald Baptiste inlay template if you want to do gold inlay and stippling template for background grey or black.Also does good bulino dots.
My suggestion only.

SE

[preachinpilot]

Okay . Before final grinding and tempering the blade spine is covered with clay in a pattern approximately 1/2 way down blade , leaving the edge bare. The blade is quenched in oil and the clay keeps the covered portion from hardening. Then the blade is tempered 400-500 degrees depending on metal. The backs are fileable so I believe they are 50ish RHC.

[Boomhower]

Hello I am no expert but you will save alot of headaches if you do your engraving when the knife is annealed it will cut nice and less headaches all around I assume that you do all your grinding win its annealed it sure saves time that way. When I started making knives I didn't anneal anything but I sure do now

[SEngraver]

Originally Posted by preachinpilot

Okay . Before final grinding and tempering the blade spine is covered with clay in a pattern approximately 1/2 way down blade , leaving the edge bare. The blade is quenched in oil and the clay keeps the covered portion from hardening. Then the blade is tempered 400-500 degrees depending on metal. The backs are fileable so I believe they are 50ish RHC.

Hi
Thank you Preaching Pilot.That is interesting .You use any clay or is there a special type ?
SE

[preachinpilot]

Thanks all! I use satanite which is foundry refractory. I anneal my blades or temper them in an oven to apprx 55-59 rh. I still need lots of practice before I post any pics but will try to post a pic of a knife with the clay tempered blade or "hamon".

[Dave London]

Engrave before heat treating.

[preachinpilot]

OUCH!!! I am tempering and or heat treating my knives the old fashioned way I guess. I always have scale after the hardening and have been media blasting the blade before tempering. Cant hurt to cut some metal and see how it works out. I am presuming that most engraved knives are heat treated in a kiln and are wrapped in stainless sheet. Presuming.

[SEngraver]

Originally Posted by preachinpilot

Thanks all! I use satanite which is foundry refractory. I anneal my blades or temper them in an oven to apprx 55-59 rh. I still need lots of practice before I post any pics but will try to post a pic of a knife with the clay tempered blade or "hamon".

Hi
Thanks for the info on satanite Preachinpilot.
SE

[preachinpilot]

Okay so here is the skinny. Finish the knife to 400 grit or more, engrave, then heat treat in a kiln. Yep got it, Wrapped in stainless foil the steel stays clean. For stainless or a2 anyway. Still working it.