5160 Grain and Grind Critique

[gables]

I had a knife take an ill turn on the grinder but I decided to push through it for testing. I used reducing heats with a few minutes of soak and then air cool at 1600 and 1550. Lastly it soaked 10 minutes at 1525 followed by quench in a medium speed oil. I tempered it for two 1 hour cycles of 375.

I have a tendency to leave my blades too thick prior to convexing. This is a large chute knife so I ground to 25 thousandths before convexing. I could get it shaving sharp and it withstood chopping on osage and a brass rod test without chip or roll.

I could not, however, get it to cut rope well. I laid 1" sissal rope on the bench and tried slicing but the blade slid across it more than cut it.

How does the grain look to you and should I have treated and ground it differently?

 

[jeff mccray]

Hmmmm 5160 should be oil quenched then tempered.  Did you edge quench?

[kbaknife]

Jeff, he said, "....followed by quench in a medium speed oil. I tempered it for two 1 hour cycles of 375."

From what I can see here, the grain appears what would be the result of your process and looks fine to me.
Your edge, and right behind the cutting edge, looks to be a bit blunt to slice rope.
Just from what I can see.