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  1. Kevin R. Cashen

    Carbide Games

    In the other threads in this series I have covered the different kinds of edges one can have on a knife, all with a valid claim to the title of “sharp” despite, their very different modes of cut. I would be remiss, here in the Heat Treating forum, not to cover one of the most profound effects...
  2. Kevin R. Cashen

    Tempering for different kinds of “sharp.”

    You ever notice how each knife user has their own taste in sharpening stones? Not just types or brands, mind you, such as your uncle swears by natural Arkansas, but your Granddad wants a Norton, but how some prefer widely differing grits. Some folks insist in progressively finer stones, followed...
  3. Kevin R. Cashen

    Another fun heat treatment topic this week.

    Here is another one, that I thought was worth sharing. It is fun, because it is easy when you understand the process but may seem mysterious for many. One of the weekly phone calls, or e-mail, that I received this week had a good question. I will paraphrase it something like this- “Kevin, I...
  4. Kevin R. Cashen

    Heat treatment or geometry, which is more important?

    Get your cup of coffee, this will take a bit. ;) I have been working on article and video ideas and wanted to see if this one could be of interest. When I began learning about the fascinating effects of heat treatments on the properties of steel, I fell into the mindset that the three most...
  5. Kevin R. Cashen

    My Latest Take-Down Knife

    I had a knife that I needed to finish for a customer and the stay-at-home allowed me the time finally get to it. It was sitting in the drawer and when I had a student request a private class in take-downs in January, I used it as an example to move things along. This may be one of the most...
  6. Kevin R. Cashen

    Sources of useable scrap metal?

    I am wondering if there are any Michiganders on this forum that know of a scrap yard or business that will sell scrap metal to people? I am not talking about blade steel, I am talking about the structural steel type of stuff that you need when you are building a new forge, a quench tank...
  7. Kevin R. Cashen

    My latest sword- the sword of Elector Christian I of Saxony

    Years ago when one of my best clients asked if there was a sword that I had wanted to make, and one immediately came to mind. On one of my sword research trips, to England, back in 2008, I had studied some fantastic pieces at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. These really great swords are...
  8. Kevin R. Cashen

    "A Craftsman's Legacy" Spatha

    2017 started with the January filming of episode 401 of A Craftsman's Legacy, "]The Sword Maker at my shop. I have had my share of television experiences and have found that they are not always my favorite aspect of what I do. After almost swearing off television appearances altogether I was...
  9. Kevin R. Cashen

    Anybody else have these LP company problems

    So today I severed my relationship with my propane supplier of over 15 years, they didn’t like it, but I got some satisfaction. After many years of dealing with the same local, mom and pop, LP gas supplier, about two years ago trouble started when they were bought out by a large gas supply...
  10. Kevin R. Cashen

    Sword layout

    Ever wonder how one keeps a 36"+ grind line straight? Well here is my solution. When I started out in knifemaking I would attend the shows and could spot the stock removal blades instantly by how straight, clean and precisely they were shaped. I always thought how great it would be to make a...
  11. Kevin R. Cashen

    My latest sword project

    The medieval sword found in the river Witham is one of the most recognizable treasures at the British museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=296785001&objectId=36133&partId=1 A few years ago I had the rare...
  12. Kevin R. Cashen

    Possible browser conflict with Knifedogs

    Hello folks, I have had an issue for some time now but have just worked around it, but I also realize that if anybody but I am having the problem I can only help this forum and its visitors if I let if I share it here. I am using I-Explorer 11, version 11.0.9600.17501 on a PC running...
  13. Kevin R. Cashen

    Guess what Santa brought me?

    Here is a picture of the jolly guy himself with his familiar (at least to knifemakers) sleigh in front of my garage ready to unload my new way too cool toy!
  14. Kevin R. Cashen

    New Ashokan type hammer-in in the Midwest.

    I thought I would let folks know that there is a new hammer-in coming up that is being done by some of the same folks that organize that Ahoskan seminar. The Great Lakes Bladesmiths Build, a non-profit sister group to the New England Bladesmiths Guild, has been established to bring a new...
  15. Kevin R. Cashen

    More marquenching questions

    My input regarding marquenching here-Don't drop your freshly quenched 1095 blade!! has spawned a few private questions, but one had so many excellent discussion points that I felt it really should be discussed for the benefit of all. What about steels that are going to be tempered much lower...
  16. Kevin R. Cashen

    The art of heat treating

    Want to discuss your feelings about the topic and other more subjective topics? Go ahead knock yourself out. But keep it friendly, with no cheap shots, pot shots, bomb throwing, flaming etc...
  17. Kevin R. Cashen

    Thank you

    I just received my Best Forum Educator Members Choice Award plaque in the mail and wanted to thank all the Knifedogs visitors for the kind gesture and support toward my input here. Thank you Sincerely grateful Kevin R. Cashen
  18. Kevin R. Cashen

    ABS Board knife- dagger

    I just finished the knife that I was asked to make as a member of the board of directors of the American Bladesmith Society. The knife will be auctioned at the 2013 Blade Show in Atlanta with all proceeds going to benefit the ABS. It is a dagger based on designs taken from an Italian rapier...
  19. Kevin R. Cashen

    Hardening II- Quenching

    Hardening II Quenching With the carbon in solution (austenite) within the blade, the idea behind hardening the steel is to somehow trap that carbon there to create a super-saturated solution at room temperature with the maximum wheel chock effect on the iron matrix. If the steel is cooled...
  20. Kevin R. Cashen

    Hardening Part 1

    Hardening I The Soak As we covered in the initial thread Basics-of-heat-treating, heat treatment of steel is merely a matter of rearranging carbon in iron in order to achieve our desired effects by where it is placed and temperature is our tool in doing that. But temperatures partner is...
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