hodge911 Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 hi all I have a Q for the knife makers amongst you . while clearing out the shad I have come across some old garden shears [ probs over 20 yrs old ] before I skip them I was wondering if they would be any good to have a go at making a knife with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photon Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 May be worth running a file over the sharp edge, if it skates over the edge it will show it's a reasonable hardness, if it bites and you can remove material easily then not so good. Usually older tools have a better steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Once again the old Camp: lol. If it say`s SHEFFIELD, make a knife out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Re the file test - it may not be tempered very hard. Better to heat it to non-magnetic, quench in oil, then try the file. If still soft, try quenching in hot water and test again. If it's an old pair of shears, it will probably make a decent knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Re the file test - it may not be tempered very hard. Better to heat it to non-magnetic, quench in oil, then try the file. If still soft, try quenching in hot water and test again. If it's an old pair of shears, it will probably make a decent knife. sorry mate this means nowt to me I understand what the quench is but as for the non magnetic bit........ woosh straight over the top :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 What he is saying to get the hardness right it is heated till it wont be magnetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 i'd make a nice chopper out of them, something to cut brush with, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 if they are decent shears they will be 2 grades of steel.....the top edge will be the knife the bottom edge will be the shear....like a proper lawn mower...as you use it it sharpens itself........use the hard piece......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) sorry mate this means nowt to me I understand what the quench is but as for the non magnetic bit........ woosh straight over the top :lol: Sorry!Heat it up to red/orange - check by touching the piece to a large magnet. When the steel is no longer attracted to the magnet, that is the critical temperature. Keep it at that point for 30 seconds or so, then quench it as above, and test with a file. If it does prove to harden sufficiently, then you need to anneal it do it can be worked: heat it as before, hold at the critical temperature for 30 seconds, then leave to cool as slowly as possible. When cold it will be as soft as it will get,, and ready to cut/file. Edited February 3, 2015 by CaptainBeaky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Sorry! Heat it up to red/orange - check by touching the piece to a large magnet. When the steel is no longer attracted to the magnet, that is the critical temperature. Keep it at that point for 30 seconds or so, then quench it as above, and test with a file. If it does prove to harden sufficiently, then you need to anneal it do it can be worked: heat it as before, hold at the critical temperature for 30 seconds, then leave to cool as slowly as possible. When cold it will be as soft as it will get,, and ready to cut/file. cheers C.B I get what you mean I can just about remember the bit in metal work at school about hardening and annealing ...lol as I have no way of heating these does anyone who has the facilities and know how want to come pick them up F.O.C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 cheers C.B I get what you mean I can just about remember the bit in metal work at school about hardening and annealing ...lol as I have no way of heating these does anyone who has the facilities and know how want to come pick them up F.O.C How about a blow lamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) How about a blow lamp? get some coke and light a fire with it in a biggish flower pot Edited February 3, 2015 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Our exercise your Google-fu for "two-brick forge" - that's what I use, total cost about ten quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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