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I’m really loving my new job in an aviation R&D machine shop. Today they were getting rid of some material and were kind enough to let me take some. I know the redder colored blocks are 2” canvas micarta - super dense and heavy- but I don’t know the age. It’s the dark brown material that I...

I'm about to heat treat my first knives in Magnacut and have a question for those of you that have already done so. I've got the basic protocol for where I plan to start- 2050*F for 20 minutes, 350*F temper 2x2 hours. I'm trying to find out if you do an equalizing soak like you do for AEB-L...

I'm getting ready to replace my glass platen for the first time. I think I have an idea of how I want to approach removing the old one (very carefully, using a torch) and want to make sure I've done any shaping of the new one before I start that process. My question is on how much to radius the...

I'm just starting to work with AEB-L. Yesterday I ran test coupons to dial in my temps. I'm getting 62 hrc with just freezer cryo right now. I may move up to dry ice and see how much more I can get out of it. My question today is when do most folks remove the blade from the foil packet? After...

I've been doing some research on AEB-L recently because I want to start working with stainless steel this coming year. I came across a discussion of doing a stress relief cycle to reduce chances of warpage- basically soaking at 1200 F and letting cool overnight in the HT oven. My question is...

I just received some stainless Damascus from Chad Nichols that I won in a drawing. Beautiful stuff. Pretty sure I’ll be able to heat treat and etch it following the instructions from his website. I’ll just need to get some foil. Anyone with experience with this kind of material have any advice...

A new addition to the family. Can’t wait to take it out to the range. M1 Garand in 30-06. Was actually able to find some reasonably priced ammo too.

I picked up a 1/4" thick piece of "bearing bronze" that I'd like to use for a guard and spacer on a knife project. I haven't worked with bronze yet, and am assuming there are different kinds out there. Will this kind work? I plan on filing and sanding it to shape. Didn't know if it can be cold...

I've got some 80crv2 from NJSB and I've been reading about the need to normalize it to prevent hardening issues. I do most of my grinding pre heat treat, so was wondering if it makes sense to normalize after I profile but prior to grinding my bevels in order to deal with the decarb. Was looking...

I'm working on my first frame handle knife, and am trying to figure out my order of operations. Should I be hardening the blade prior to working on fitting up all the pieces? Also, is there any reason or benefit to heat treating the frame, guard or spacers? Still trying to figure out how I want...

Trying to figure out if Parks #50 will work to quench 80crv2, or if I need to pick up some AAA. After reading through the forums, looks like both have been used with success.

Like the title says. I'll be attempting to make my first cleaver by request. It will be from 1084, 3/16" stock. It won't fit in the oven vertically, so what's the best option for HT it? Can it lay on the oven floor? Should I take the ceramic pins out of the HT stand and lay it on that? I haven't...

So I just finished profiling 3 chef knives from .090" 15n20. This will be my first time working with this steel. I've done some research on HT, so the plan is to austenize at 1480*, hold for 10 minutes, then into Parks 50 and off to temper. Looking for 64-65 HRC as quenched. I also plan to do a...

For those of you tempering in your heat treat oven, how long does it take your oven to cool down from austenizing temp to tempering temp?

My name is Tim Heikkila and I started making knives in 2016. Four years later and I'm still enjoying it. Here are some of the latest off the bench. 4" hunter with Buckeye Burl and G-10 liners. Blade is 1084.

So I was trying to figure out how I'm going to drill perpendicular holes in some antler today. I was going to make some kind of jig to hold the antler squared up for my drill press when I thought of some aviation tools I have that I could use (My day job is a sheet metal mechanic building...

Got a start on my KITH knife for Nick. It’s going to be a 4” gentleman’s hunter from 1084 with African Blackwood scales. For a challenge, I'll be adding some file work. I'll be attempting a Roman Knot pattern. This will be my third attempt and hopefully an improvement on both #1 and #2...

I started posting this in another thread and thought I'd make it a WIP so I could add more detail about the build as I progress. To give some background, this is the 3rd axe I've modded in this way, each one getting a bit more detailed. The first was a roofing hatchet that was found in the...

The 125 year old barn finally came down on the family farm in Upper Michigan. I was given some of the wood and decided to make some kitchen knife blocks for all my cousins. The idea is to fill them with bamboo skewers to hold the knives in place. I think it’s a neat way for everyone to have a...

I've started using rasps to rough out my handles lately and am enjoying the control they give. The ones I'm using are pretty coarse (and cheap). I find myself thinking about dropping $90+ on a single hand stitched cabinet maker pattern rasp. Am I crazy, or are they worth the money? Anyone with...