New HEPK Stock Removal Style!! Maybe!! WIP Lots Of Pics

[Ed Fowler]

Shane: I don't use a rosebud, they get too hot too quick. I use a Victor #3 - W and a 2 X flame. Turn it down and heat slowly, both sides alternatively until the bottom 1/2 of so of the blade is non - magnetic, (leaving the spine magnetic) then a few seconds to make it uniform, then quench.

Rex and I were talking last night and he related an interesting development: he had multiple quenched a blade 1/10 of an inch thick (Rex does not talk to me in thousands or hundreds, knows he has to simplify to my vernacular), it got to 67 on the Rc and he had to temper to 480 to pull the blade down to 57 Rc. I asked him why he did not test the blade with edge flex and cut between the 67 and 57 Rc and he said that the man who made the blade works hard and slow and has spent 6 months working it - all by hand and did not want it tested to destruction. Some folks are just not curious!

As a result of this event we now have a whole new set of variables to work with:
this indicates that the volume of the steel above the edge quenched portion of the blade (as well as the mass of the lower 1/2 of the blade) has a significant amount of influence on the nature of the edge. I always knew a reciprocal relationship existed, but this is more than I had believed. I do not consider this is not a bad situation but another opportunity.

If I can get a few more knives finished and sold I will be able to spend some time experimenting without the bank breathing down my back. I can't wait!!

[spaknives]

Ed I have sat in your shop and used your torch a few times and for the life of me I could not remeber what was on the end of it. Thanks for the  answer.

The information Rex and you have discussed is very interesting indeed! I did not think 52100 would get that hard. I thought maybe around a 63to64 would have been the hardest. I have a piece of 52100 that is pretty thin probley just under an 1/8". I have not been sure what to do with it. I have wondered how something that thin would handle the edge flexes and  90 deg. bend test. Something to think about and try someday.

[gmusic]

Hey Shane!

How the heck are ya?  I'm most curious to hear the results of your tests.  I hope you test both the dmask and the 52100 bar stock.

I made another trip to Wyoming last month to fill in the many blanks left from my first trip, it was great!  Much like watching a movie for the second time, it all starts to make more sense.

Please keep us informed!

Take care.............................