Removing part of a bolster on old dirty carbon

[gic]

I've been getting into old dirty carbon bought at estate sales, thrift shops and the bay both to improve my sharpening skill and because they are so much fun , but on some of them the bolster is a real issue as they have been sharpened for many years and the edge is now often a bit above the bottom of the bolster. My question is what do I do to remove enough metal to fix this problem? Do I cut a triangular section of the bolster off with a hack saw and round the heels section I just revealed, do I use a dremel? I don't have a bench grinder (yet)...

TIA

 

[Pensacola Tiger]

If the steel has been hardened to any degree, a hacksaw will be slow work. A cutoff wheel on a Dremel is better, but be careful not to overheat the knife. It's also real easy to break the cutoff wheel. You're right that a bench grinder is probably quickest and easiest. Of course, if the "bump" isn't too large, the side of a coarse stone will suffice, in my experience.

 

[Keith Sinclair]

Try to stay away from full heel bolstered where the heel has been deformed. Even if you grind away the bolster the heel may be too messed up.

I have done a few including a huge 14" gyuto. ground off the considerable bolster with a table belt sander 60 grit. I was dipping it into a tall bucket of water often as heat is generated.

It may take quite a bit of work to bring back these old carbons. It is kind of fun to bring back a discarded blade. Try to find the ones that have not been sharpened a lot. Also patina is OK but rust with pitting is another to stay away from.