Trueing Up The Blade

Straightening the blade can be a problem

Straightening the blade can be a problem. You have successfully ground, hardened, tempered, and softened the blade in the appropriate places. Possibly you have brazed or soldered additional metal pieces to the shank. Due to uneven heating or cooling in these treatments, the blade may be warped or bent or twisted. In fact, it may be ruined.

If the knife is heated mostly on one side (for example, near the kiln heating element), it will flex away from the heat, bending the blade. As it cools, it will "freeze" in this position.

Place the blade on a perfectly flat surface and carefully observe its straightness. It may have one or more curves in it, and may even be slightly twisted like a corkscrew. Since there are no further radical operations to be performed that will warp the blade, except possibly etching, this is the time to make it as straight as possible. Straighten the blade before removing the tempering colors so that you know exactly where the softened and hardened areas are.

Only hammer in the dark blue area, because it may crack or shatter if you strike it in a hardened area. Hammering the Blade

Place a heavy piece of scrap leather between the anvil and blade to reduce the shock to your hands and ears, as well as to the blade. You can straighten a blade more easily without cracking the edge with such a cushion. Using a smooth, heavy, rounded hammer, simply beat the blade flat. Place the concave side down on the padded or slightly concave anvil. Strike with the center of the hammer head, not the edge, or you will dent sweet little smiles all over the side of the blade.

Hit it easily at first, then harder. You can feel the vibration that the blade gives off when struck, and you can hear its sound. If it feels hard and unyielding and sounds high-pitched, it might not be properly annealed in the spot you are striking. Look carefully at that spot and see if it really is a full, even blue color. If it is a lighter grey color in spots, go back and anneal more fully and carefully to an even, deep blue so you can adequately straighten the blade.

Beat along the center of the blade until it seems pretty flat. Then, look along the edge and along the back and proceed until the blade lies flat on a smooth table top.

by: Feliks

POST COMMENT

Choosing Led Bulbs Based Upon Lighting Levels The Cost Of Windmill Devices Ego-t Electric Cigarettes: Delight In More Vapor 6 Easy Ways For Making Gift Jars Shakira - Latin Tunes Ego-t E-cigarette: For A More Effective Power Consumption Spa Addiction Is For Sure After This Spa Visit Adding Painter In Window 7 Learning Guitar Has Never Been Easier A Short Review On 2012 Ford Fiesta Gastric Virtual Band - Learning The Details Lessons About Warming Up Your Brand . . . From Parties Choosing The Perfect Men's Suit For A Christmas Event