diamond blades

hunter jenkins · May 10, 2008, 12:16:00 AM

i just got two diamond blades that came off a concrete-saw how good are they for makeing a knife blade they are about 13 3/4 in diameter

LC · May 10, 2008, 10:24:00 PM

Well I guess the verdict is still out on that. I was always under the believe if a blade used carbide teeth or diamonds the metal didn't have to be that good! But theres atleast one poster I've ran onto that says they make good knives. So I guess it's up to you. Make a knife and get back to us!

hunter jenkins · May 10, 2008, 10:59:00 PM

thanks

Lin Rhea · May 11, 2008, 07:27:00 AM

Hunter Jenkins,
I would be glad to help, but I dont know. I have some of the same blades in my shop and just hav'nt had time to experiment. Off hand, since they are meant to be run wet, I'd say they are some version of stain resistance. This would move them into a "difficult to forge" catagory. For me. I dont stock remove, to speak of, so I wont likely be using them.
If you can determine whether they are good for knives, they might make a filet knife.
Lin

bretto · May 11, 2008, 07:57:00 AM

I've used concrete blades a lot. They make dry cutting blades also. The diameter of the blade You listed probably came off a Quickie saw and was a dry cutting blade so it has been heated up and cooled down several times. I meant I had used them at work not to make knives with. Some rust and some don't.
I think RGK made a blade and posted it last year before the knife forum came to be.

Lin Rhea · May 11, 2008, 09:45:00 AM

Bretto,
Thanks. I would imagine the dry run blades are an air hardening steel. I dont know for sure, but since it has to run hot and cool off so many times, it might be.
To be sure of this, one would have to try to drill it and see if it's hard. Then heat a section to red, let it cool in open air, then try to drill it. If it drills easier, it is not an air hardening steel.
This is not to say that it would or would'nt be a good knife steel. Other tests would determine that.
Lin

mullet · May 12, 2008, 08:02:00 PM

I've made some from my 10" diamond rock saw that is water cooled. I cut them out with a chisel and they are hard as hell. They make a good edge and stay sharp too. I like them.

hunter jenkins · May 16, 2008, 09:34:00 PM

mullet this is hunter jenkins how do you cut the diamond saw blades out with a chisel. thanks hunt jenkins

mullet · May 18, 2008, 05:19:00 PM

Hunter, I draw the shape I want on the blade and then take a good, hard ,chisel and just follow the line. I hit it with a 3# hammer while it is on an anvel. It is just like the chapter on knife making in the Foxfire books.