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Thread: knife help

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Queensland
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    Default knife help

    hey every one

    how can i tell what kind of steel a power hacksaw blade is? i have one that i want to make into a marking knife but unsure if there are differences in types of blades, what i do know is on mine the teeth grind a nice red colour while the back grinds orange? is that because of the hardening? when i use it, do i have to soften it and re-harden it?

    thanks for the help
    happy turning

    Patrick

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Bondoola
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    Default

    It sounds like the blade is a bi-metal type. The teeth are HSS and the blade above the teeth is a specitic alloy steel. If you grind all the teeth off you will have to radius the end of the blde by grinding as though you were shaping the end of a bowie knife. When doing this, note carefully where the sparks change from dull red (HSS) to orange (alloy steel). There may be enough HSS left as a narrow band to allow the formation of the knife you want.
    You can grind the blade to shape without fear of needing to retemper the blade. Once you hit the alloy steel, it may not hold the edge you want or then again, it just might. Try it and see. I suggest you try and get a blade that is all HSS, the problem with such a blade is that is rather brittle. This can be overcme by using a large power hacksaw blade about 3mm thick. These blade work very well and hold their edge but dont use them as a"lever". They are also difficult to find.

    Kody

  3. #3
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    Sep 2008
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    Queensland
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kody View Post
    It sounds like the blade is a bi-metal type. The teeth are HSS and the blade above the teeth is a specitic alloy steel. If you grind all the teeth off you will have to radius the end of the blde by grinding as though you were shaping the end of a bowie knife. When doing this, note carefully where the sparks change from dull red (HSS) to orange (alloy steel). There may be enough HSS left as a narrow band to allow the formation of the knife you want.
    You can grind the blade to shape without fear of needing to retemper the blade. Once you hit the alloy steel, it may not hold the edge you want or then again, it just might. Try it and see. I suggest you try and get a blade that is all HSS, the problem with such a blade is that is rather brittle. This can be overcme by using a large power hacksaw blade about 3mm thick. These blade work very well and hold their edge but dont use them as a"lever". They are also difficult to find.

    Kody
    thanks now im sure its not all HSS ill see what else i can use it for

    Edit: anyone know of any sites that clearly explain the differences in metals/steels, hardening and how to read the sparks to tell what type of steel it is?
    happy turning

    Patrick

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