[TheForge] Finishing forged knife

[Andy Vida]

Scott Lane wrote:

>         In what order should I now do the grinding, normalizing (thermal cycling 3
> times) and hardening/tempering?

	The answer is "it depends". I knew you'd like that.

	If you're going to use salts for heat treating, you can 
	normalize, then grind and final finish the blade before
	hardening/drawing.  This is a nice way to go because the
	the grinding and finish work is easier on soft steel
	as opposed to hardened.

	Otherwise, normalize, rough grind (defines final form of
	the blade to, say, +0.020" all around, or perhaps a bit
	more depending on your skill.  Do your heat treat, then
	finish grind, then polish or whatever else you have in
	mind.  Drill all your holes, if any, prior to hardening.
	People DO forget this now and again.

	One thing I've been meaning to do for years if build a
	highly variable speed grinder for knives.  I have never
	been very comfortable with the commercial grinders (I've
	had two Baders and their slowest speeds were still way
	too fast for me for finish work).  My idea is to use a
	variable transmission such as an Eaton model 11 that will
	allow for precise speed control from zero sfpm to perhaps
	as high as 9,000 (not sure the belts would survive long
	at those speeds).

>  I'll probably normalize before grinding
> just to be sure so that I can tap out the small kinks, but should I
> normalize after grinding again?

	You normalize to remove the stresses.  I don't see any need 
	to normalize again after grinding, but I may be wrong.

	Have you checked out the knofe-list?  You many want to pose
	your questions over there.  Lot's of talent in that circle.