I tried to polish a turd.
- fromkentucky
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I tried to polish a turd.
So my buddy shows me this knife his friend got for him at a flea market for $1.00
It had absolutely no edge whatsoever. Dull as a rock and the sheath was of equal quality.
But the faux-paracord wrapping was a nice touch, and look at those awesome serrations and raised thumb bridge! It says "USA SABER" and has a super patriotic American Flag on it, so you know this thing is serious business.
Well, a few laughs were had and I sarcastically remarked that I could probably put an edge on it with a bench grinder, a few hours and some fairy dust, which turned into a challenge that I was forced to accept out of sheer Man Pride™.
So I sat down over the weekend and spent about an hour and a half with a bench grinder, a flat file and a 3-in-1 sharpener from Cabela's. The problem with using a bench grinder is that I've never used one to sharpen anything and didn't really understand how to hold the knife steady until about 2/3rds of the way through, so it's even uglier and more stupid looking than before... But it's sharp.
I've decided to name this hideous profile the "This-Is-What-It-Took-To-Sharpen-This-Piece-Of-Crap-And-I-Don't-Want-To-Hear-Anything-About-It" Grind.
It even has a tip:
I even managed to cut myself once when the file slipped off the blade and my thumb pressed straight down onto it:
It's not razor sharp, nor is the edge uniform, but it will take off some hair with a bit of trying. All in all, for my first time sharpening a blade that I'm pretty sure wasn't meant to ever be sharpened, I'm proud of this thing.
It had absolutely no edge whatsoever. Dull as a rock and the sheath was of equal quality.
But the faux-paracord wrapping was a nice touch, and look at those awesome serrations and raised thumb bridge! It says "USA SABER" and has a super patriotic American Flag on it, so you know this thing is serious business.
Well, a few laughs were had and I sarcastically remarked that I could probably put an edge on it with a bench grinder, a few hours and some fairy dust, which turned into a challenge that I was forced to accept out of sheer Man Pride™.
So I sat down over the weekend and spent about an hour and a half with a bench grinder, a flat file and a 3-in-1 sharpener from Cabela's. The problem with using a bench grinder is that I've never used one to sharpen anything and didn't really understand how to hold the knife steady until about 2/3rds of the way through, so it's even uglier and more stupid looking than before... But it's sharp.
I've decided to name this hideous profile the "This-Is-What-It-Took-To-Sharpen-This-Piece-Of-Crap-And-I-Don't-Want-To-Hear-Anything-About-It" Grind.
It even has a tip:
I even managed to cut myself once when the file slipped off the blade and my thumb pressed straight down onto it:
It's not razor sharp, nor is the edge uniform, but it will take off some hair with a bit of trying. All in all, for my first time sharpening a blade that I'm pretty sure wasn't meant to ever be sharpened, I'm proud of this thing.
"A citizen may not be required to offer a 'good and substantial reason' why he should be permitted to exercise his rights. The right's existence is all the reason he needs."
-U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg
-U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg
- justang1997
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I don't wanna be a debbie downer but a bench grinder will ruin the temper of the blade pretty quickly. I'm no expert but it basically heats the blade and softens the cutting edge which should be harder than the spine. Even on larger tools a bench grinder is a bad thing. With a good file it should take no time to rough out the shape or remove dings without heating the blade.
- fromkentucky
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I had to remove a good 1/16" of material on each side to actually create a bevel, hence the bench grinder. I suppose I could build a soup-can forge and try to heat treat it.
Again, I'm a complete novice. Honestly though, I don't think this blade was ever even hardened in the first place. It's just stamped barstock.
Again, I'm a complete novice. Honestly though, I don't think this blade was ever even hardened in the first place. It's just stamped barstock.
"A citizen may not be required to offer a 'good and substantial reason' why he should be permitted to exercise his rights. The right's existence is all the reason he needs."
-U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Winnerfromkentucky wrote:this blade was ever even hardened in the first place. It's just stamped barstock.
No heat treat/temper
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
If your knife is cut with a file , it an'it much of a blade.justang1997 wrote:I don't wanna be a debbie downer but a bench grinder will ruin the temper of the blade pretty quickly. I'm no expert but it basically heats the blade and softens the cutting edge which should be harder than the spine. Even on larger tools a bench grinder is a bad thing. With a good file it should take no time to rough out the shape or remove dings without heating the blade.
Should only be able to cut with a abrasive
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
A good blade is RC30 or better
Which is about as hard as a file
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Which is about as hard as a file
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- fromkentucky
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Good to know, thank you. Now I just need to read up on heat-treating.If your knife is cut with a file , it an'it much of a blade.
Should only be able to cut with a abrasive
"A citizen may not be required to offer a 'good and substantial reason' why he should be permitted to exercise his rights. The right's existence is all the reason he needs."
-U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg
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- justang1997
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I think most files are RC60. My nicholson (usa not mexico) ate right through the back of my mora to make a flat spot for striking ferrocium rods. Most hardness test kits contain files from 40-60guncrank1 wrote:A good blade is RC30 or better
Which is about as hard as a file
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Hardness Tester like this set I have in my handjustang1997 wrote:I think most files are RC60. My nicholson (usa not mexico) ate right through the back of my mora to make a flat spot for striking ferrocium rods. Most hardness test kits contain files from 40-60guncrank1 wrote:A good blade is RC30 or better
Which is about as hard as a file
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It test 40-65RC
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Rockwell hardness not withstanding a good blade should not be able to be filed on the edge
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Yeah. So what is a off the shelf file? I'm doubting its 30. I'm betting 60 or better? I doubt any knives out there have a blade that can't be shaped by files. I could be wrong but I sharpen all kinds of shit with my files. Not any pocket knives but I doubt they would stand up to a file.
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I too filed the spines of all my Moras flat for fire steel striking/ tinder shaving.
Also did this with my ontario machete, the spine and roughed out a convex edge then finished it with stones. Don't know the hardness of the file, it's a Nicholson.
Removed a knick On the bit of one of my axes with the same file.
Also did this with my ontario machete, the spine and roughed out a convex edge then finished it with stones. Don't know the hardness of the file, it's a Nicholson.
Removed a knick On the bit of one of my axes with the same file.
- fromkentucky
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I will say this, it was definitely harder than the steel in an A2 FSB that I cut down and filed smooth to fit under a Samson handguard. Easily took twice as many passes to remove the same amount of material, with a similar felt-pressure level. Granted, that's far from scientific, but should give an idea. A2s are cast from relatively mild steel.guncrank1 wrote:Rockwell hardness not withstanding a good blade should not be able to be filed on the edge
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"A citizen may not be required to offer a 'good and substantial reason' why he should be permitted to exercise his rights. The right's existence is all the reason he needs."
-U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg
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- fromkentucky
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Remember guys, the knife was purchased at a flea market for $1. That alone should tell you it's just stamped steel that wasn't hardened.
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
justang1997 wrote:Yeah. So what is a off the shelf file? I'm doubting its 30. I'm betting 60 or better? I doubt any knives out there have a blade that can't be shaped by files. I could be wrong but I sharpen all kinds of shit with my files. Not any pocket knives but I doubt they would stand up to a file.
Originally Posted by Longstrider
So often I'll see manufacturers stating the Rc hardness of the blade steel, but cannot find any info on the Buck blades I know and love to make an informed comparison by.
On Buck's website.
http://www.buckknives.com/technical_making.php#heat
"This tempering process toughens the steel and brings 420HC blades to 58 on the Rockwell scale, the preferred hardness for edge holding. ATS-34, BG-42 and S30V blades can be hardened to Rc 59.5-61."
From blade forum
Blade is as hard as a file on a buck knife
Not a fancy knife at all
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Old sticking knife - commerical grade 15 years or older
Hardness between 55 /60 RC
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Stainless is a different alloy than a FSB which is 4140 or similiar tooling steelfromkentucky wrote:I will say this, it was definitely harder than the steel in an A2 FSB that I cut down and filed smooth to fit under a Samson handguard. Easily took twice as many passes to remove the same amount of material, with a similar felt-pressure level. Granted, that's far from scientific, but should give an idea. A2s are cast from relatively mild steel.guncrank1 wrote:Rockwell hardness not withstanding a good blade should not be able to be filed on the edge
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Most are stamped which work hardened the material to a degree
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
If you sharpen a knife blade with a file, you do two thingsjustang1997 wrote:Yeah. So what is a off the shelf file? I'm doubting its 30. I'm betting 60 or better? I doubt any knives out there have a blade that can't be shaped by files. I could be wrong but I sharpen all kinds of shit with my files. Not any pocket knives but I doubt they would stand up to a file.
You dull the file and shorten the useful life of your blade.
But then I don't know anything.
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
I didn't say I sharpened my knifes with a file. I said I sharpened all kinds of stuff but not pocket knives. You just said earlier a file was about 30rc and that any good knife was harder than a file. I just completely disagree. I'd say a file is harder than a knife. I also was mentioning the file would be better for shaping his blade and working out serious dings. Better than a bench grinder
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
guncrank1 wrote:Old sticking knife - commerical grade 15 years or older
Hardness between 55 /60 RC
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Disagree all you wantjustang1997 wrote:I didn't say I sharpened my knifes with a file. I said I sharpened all kinds of stuff but not pocket knives. You just said earlier a file was about 30rc and that any good knife was harder than a file. I just completely disagree. I'd say a file is harder than a knife. I also was mentioning the file would be better for shaping his blade and working out serious dings. Better than a bench grinder
a knife that is worth anything is as hard as a file or harder
Buck knives are
That sticking blade is
Would you care to see that statement in a short unprofessional video??
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Files are never made to be used with hardened steel
To do so will dull the files in one or two passes.
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To do so will dull the files in one or two passes.
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Since I have your permission I'll continue disagreeing. A file is the go to tool for sharpening axes, mower blades, and chains on chain saws. All of those have hardnesses between 45 and 58 rc based on my quick google search. With your logic I will dull my file in one or two passes on a rc58 axe head. I'll require about 20 files to touch up one blade.guncrank1 wrote:Files are never made to be used with hardened steel
To do so will dull the files in one or two passes.
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Re: I tried to polish a turd.
Yesjustang1997 wrote:Since I have your permission I'll continue disagreeing. A file is the go to tool for sharpening axes, mower blades, and chains on chain saws. All of those have hardnesses between 45 and 58 rc based on my quick google search. With your logic I will dull my file in one or two passes on a rc58 axe head. I'll require about 20 files to touch up one blade.guncrank1 wrote:Files are never made to be used with hardened steel
To do so will dull the files in one or two passes.
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Look at a files , see those lines in it?
That is dull starting
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