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Here is some WI from waggon wheels I have. WI is much harder to come by than HC steel so make double sure it is not WI. WI is very useful in guards and pretty expensive in the knife community

I have a forge, HT oven, and proper quenching oils. I was just wondering if it was necessary to go through the multiple quench cycles if I chose to grind rather than forge. Thanks, Jason

I have read where the forging requires multiple quench cycles but haven't read anywhere about the need for the multiple quenches for stock removal. No doubt that's because before now 52100 HAD to be forged. But thanks to Aldo, that's not true any more. Suppose I got some thin 52100 from...

I think the preferred oil is a medium speed oil, but I have heard of more than a few makers using P-50 and having good results. I just read yesterday (I think it was Ed Fowler) who uses unheated P50. Either way, if it is too fast I could try Canola oil.

I am wanting to do a run of several kitchen knives. Not that I have any particular fondness of them, but it is one way to make a knife without feeling compaled to make a blasted sheath. Aldo has both 52100 and 1095 ground to .110/.120 in stock and I'm on the fence as to which to get. I...

It is a 120v kiln since there is only one element. If there were two elements, it would be 220v. Tracy has them listed as 220 but Paragon says they are 120. Tracy's site also says there are two elements, but Paragon's site says there is only one. Thanks for the explanation and the advice. I...

I converted my kiln to a HT oven as shown in this thread. It has done well so far at getting up to 1500 degrees but I asked more than it could give today. I was in the process of HT'ing my first stainless and the heating element broke at around 1700 degrees. Honestly, I figured it would...

On most production knives I have noticed that the "Chef" style knife in 6-8" are around 3/16 to 1/4" thick at the spine. But on custom knives I've noticed they are 3/32 or less at the spine, even on the larger blades. Is that just so the maker doesn't have to remove as much steel, or are...

Erin, the knife looks great. I have made three knives so far for gift exchanges. I figure it is cheaper for me to spend $15 on simple knife materials than to go buy a laughing Santa or a pair of socks. Plus I think the knife will be traded more or appreciated much more. I know I could get...

I give it a good rub with alcohol and it seems to loosen it up a bit, but then I have to scrape it off with a chisil made from a rod of brass. Soft brass shouldn't scratch the harder steel and it is my main go to tool for cleaning epoxy and oil off a finished blade

Thanks Darrin, When I finished the door last night and fired it for the first time all put together, I sure had my fingers crossed! I just knew something would go wrong but I'm good for now.

I was fortunate enough to buy a Paragon A88B pottery kiln at auction for $20. It was in good shape, but when I hooked it to my newly ran 40 Amp 220 circuit, I found that it took several hours to get near useable temps. If I recall, after 3 hours, it was only at 600C. Here is a pic of the...