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Started By
Message
How to harden iron blades
Posted on 5/5/13 at 8:33 am
Posted on 5/5/13 at 8:33 am
I want to reharden my cane knife. After sharpening with a grinder the metal is soft and doesn't hold an edge very good. I just got a bench sander so I think that will put a better edge. Or I will use a hand file.
-So is the process get white hot with a torch and dip in a bucket of oil?
-Is it best just to harden the edge and not the full blade?
-Sharpen before hardening process?
-So is the process get white hot with a torch and dip in a bucket of oil?
-Is it best just to harden the edge and not the full blade?
-Sharpen before hardening process?
4
Posted on 5/5/13 at 9:51 am to Nodust
I miss the cane knife my dad had us use as kids. It was great and we bought it at a little hardware store in Lutcher in the 60s. Where is a good place to get an old style old school came knife nowadays? 
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:00 am to Nodust
Get it glowing and dunk in oil (slowly...) but unless that's some cadillac of cane knives, it's likely cheap chinese steel and unlikely you'll be able to make a difference in it.
Case hardening is what you want. It hardens the surface and allows the rest to remain soft to absorb blows, otherwise you'll just take chucks out of it when hitting stuff. Good luck.
Case hardening is what you want. It hardens the surface and allows the rest to remain soft to absorb blows, otherwise you'll just take chucks out of it when hitting stuff. Good luck.
This post was edited on 5/5/13 at 10:02 am
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:02 am to Dooshay
quote:
Get it glowing and dunk in oil (slowly...) but unless that's some cadillac of cane knives, it's likely cheap chinese steel and unlikely you'll be able to make a difference in it.
Case hardening is what you want. It hardens the surface and allows the rest to remain soft to absorb blows, otherwise you'll just take chucks out of it when hitting stuff. Good luck.
There used to be some good you tube vids on this to.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:02 am to Nodust
use a 80 grit flapper wheel on a side grinder. FTW
you can get it razor sharp without overheating.
sharpen slowly (maybe dip in water if it needs a good bit of work) to remove soft edge.
I sharpen axes, shovels, lawnmower blades and all with the flappers. wish I would have found years ago.
you can get it razor sharp without overheating.
sharpen slowly (maybe dip in water if it needs a good bit of work) to remove soft edge.
I sharpen axes, shovels, lawnmower blades and all with the flappers. wish I would have found years ago.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:04 am to Nodust
-So is the process get white hot with a torch and dip in a bucket of oil?
Used motor oil
-Is it best just to harden the edge and not the full blade?
I really don't know about this but I do know that the blade has to reach a certain temp that can tell from its color before you dip
-Sharpen before hardening process?
No but get to the correct shape and bevel before hand and sharpen after.
Remember when sharpening you can't let that metal get too hot (turn the blade blue) or you will ruin the edge. Keep it cool by dipping it in water as needed.
Used motor oil
-Is it best just to harden the edge and not the full blade?
I really don't know about this but I do know that the blade has to reach a certain temp that can tell from its color before you dip
-Sharpen before hardening process?
No but get to the correct shape and bevel before hand and sharpen after.
Remember when sharpening you can't let that metal get too hot (turn the blade blue) or you will ruin the edge. Keep it cool by dipping it in water as needed.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:14 am to Dooshay
quote:
it's likely cheap chinese steel
Most likely. But it kept a good edge til I took the grinder to it. Got a little aggressive and overheated. I think the bench sander will to the trick in the future.
Thanks everyone. I got some used motor oil and a torch.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:24 am to Nodust
Put it in something deep enough to dip the blade upright and not flat. If there's a lot of fuel in your oil you'll just set it all on fire.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:26 am to Dooshay
quote:
Put it in something deep enough to dip the blade upright and not flat.
I've got a 5 gallon bucket full, waiting for this day.
quote:
If there's a lot of fuel in your oil you'll just set it all on fire.
Sounds like a blast.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:42 am to Dooshay
quote:
. If there's a lot of fuel in your oil you'll just set it all on fire.
Sounds like an outdoor project...
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:55 am to wickowick
What could go wrong?
Posted on 5/5/13 at 10:56 am to greasemonkey
We used hand files as kids. Damn, took a while too.
Posted on 5/5/13 at 11:04 am to Nodust
quote:
Posted by Nodust
What could go wrong?
Do it on the kitchen stove and GoPro...
Posted on 5/5/13 at 11:10 am to wickowick
My wife used to work for Cajun Injector that sell turkey fry kits. They would get calls all the time people complaining that frying the turkey made a big mess or fire in their kitchen 
Posted on 5/5/13 at 11:12 am to wickowick
quote:
Do it on the kitchen stove and GoPro...
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