Gotta carbon problem

Lagrange

Lagrange

Well-Known Member
I just heat treated a group of 440c knives and just discovered they all have the dreaded carbon on the surface.
I normally just sand the carbon off with 220 grit paper and then use successive grits as usual...but I was wondering if anyone has come up with a quicker way to get through that carbon surface.
These knives are due to a customer soon, and I was not anticipating this problem. I need to get through this faster than the traditional sanding method. Anyone have any suggestions?? Please??
 
Eric,
Sometimes the HT scale can be harder than the knife.
Start with 120 Ceramic belts. They will make short work of the scale on the blades.
I am current happy with VSM ceramic belts in 36, 60, & 120 Grit..

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I wrapped them in foil Rudy...I dunno...maybe I didnt get them sealed good. I put the wood in the pouch and everything. I have had this problem before but its been a while.
 
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How you seal the pouch may be the problem or maybe you're tearing the foil along a sharp edge on the knife while squeezing out air. I make the envelope around the knife blank and triple fold all the edges but one at the end usually, then run my formica roller over the whole mess staying about a half inch or less away from the blank. After the roller I press the rest with my fingers as close as I can to the blank without running up on any edges then triple fold the open end and roll the bejesus out of that. No wood , napkin corner ot toilet paper is added. It's worked fine so far and I remember reading that it wasn't needed.

Good luck Eric,
Rudy
 
I will try your method Rudy. I thought I was doing it right, but not as much edge work as you describe. It has to be air getting into the pouch. I did three identical knives in three identical pouches and all three got carbon build up on them.
The only thing I was successful at was getting my fingers cuts from the foil. I cut myself almost every time.
I guess I need to pay closer attention to the foil wrap process from now on.

Thanks, I need all of the help I can get.
 
OOOH, those little cuts hurt don't they ? lol.
I think the roller is the secret to the whole thing, it works good at flattening the folds.

Rudy
 
I used "bubble belts" made by Hermes to remove the hard outside surface on 440-C and ATS-34 when making full tang knives. They worked well. I believe they are still available from Tru Grit. Just 1 will do a lot of blades. Frank
 
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