The following mishap happend when I was shaping a tang on otherwise nearly fully ground blade. I had the blade clamped in a file guide to get nice 'shoulders' and so while grinding the tang on my 1x30" the tang was not lying flat on the workrest, but was unsupported. Plus the tang in the space where it was clamped was slightly thicker at the spine than closer to the heel, so it was clamped basically at a single point.
I was nearly finished, when the sound of the tang being ground (I was grinding the spine to adjust the height) suddenly changed and a second later the tang broke. It was a very non-violent process (the 1x30" as 250W, so it is more of a 'steel whisperer').
I was really surprised by this, but consultation with an engineer (my father) revealed that this kind of fracture (induced by vibration in a very hard steel) may really happen. Indeed - the fracture started exactly at the point where the blade was clamped, not where it was at its thinnest
I was told, that in theory it might be possible to weld the two pieces together, but since it is a stainless steel that is a more complicated process.
I am looking for someone who would be willing to give it a try. I fully understand that this may not work. I will anyhow make a new blade (this one is actually a custom order - from a VERY patient and kind customer), but if I could save this one it would be great as a lot of work went into it already.
Thanks
Here a few photos:
I was nearly finished, when the sound of the tang being ground (I was grinding the spine to adjust the height) suddenly changed and a second later the tang broke. It was a very non-violent process (the 1x30" as 250W, so it is more of a 'steel whisperer').
I was really surprised by this, but consultation with an engineer (my father) revealed that this kind of fracture (induced by vibration in a very hard steel) may really happen. Indeed - the fracture started exactly at the point where the blade was clamped, not where it was at its thinnest
I was told, that in theory it might be possible to weld the two pieces together, but since it is a stainless steel that is a more complicated process.
I am looking for someone who would be willing to give it a try. I fully understand that this may not work. I will anyhow make a new blade (this one is actually a custom order - from a VERY patient and kind customer), but if I could save this one it would be great as a lot of work went into it already.
Thanks
Here a few photos: