Today I MADE

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`i` did replace the top deck panels some time back as it was 2nd hand and i`d say they rust out mainly as with the side supports from lazy tractor drivers that don`t clean all the dirt out after use.
One thing i try to refrain from is falling into the habit of standing on the deck or using it as a bridge platform to get to the other side.
My guess some operators have lost their feet over the years due to rusty decks and rotor blades.
 
I'm working on a Cu Mai style blade for a Veggie Chopper, it's coming along nicely

High carbon steel for the core, then 1mm copper (split from 3/4" pipe) and then 2.6mm cladding for the outside of the blade,

It all started off at 200mm x 50mm x 11mm fully Mig welded around the edges, to seal the copper in,

I took it to just past non Magnetic for the first 3 or 4 light hammerings then a tiny bit hotter to draw it about a bit, got it out to 260mm in length and thinned to about 6.5mm

Now just grinding and grinding and grinding,

All sanded to 600 grit and a quick etch in Ferric Chloride and a light sand with 600 grit and then into a very strong Coffee for a final treatment like etching

This is before going into the Coffee solution, the Ferric Chloride tends to make the copper bleed into/onto the steel
20240923_135006[1].jpg
 
Bush said:
`i` did replace the top deck panels some time back as it was 2nd hand and i`d say they rust out mainly as with the side supports from lazy tractor drivers that don`t clean all the dirt out after use.
One thing i try to refrain from is falling into the habit of standing on the deck or using it as a bridge platform to get to the other side.
My guess some operators have lost their feet over the years due to rusty decks and rotor blades.
Click to expand...
the main thing with slasher tops ,don't hose them off use a garden blower ,when hosing them you leave water in a lot of places that should never have water on them hince they start to rust
 
davsgold said:
I'm working on a Cu Mai style blade for a Veggie Chopper, it's coming along nicely

High carbon steel for the core, then 1mm copper (split from 3/4" pipe) and then 2.6mm cladding for the outside of the blade,

It all started off at 200mm x 50mm x 11mm fully Mig welded around the edges, to seal the copper in,

I took it to just past non Magnetic for the first 3 or 4 light hammerings then a tiny bit hotter to draw it about a bit, got it out to 260mm in length and thinned to about 6.5mm

Now just grinding and grinding and grinding,

All sanded to 600 grit and a quick etch in Ferric Chloride and a light sand with 600 grit and then into a very strong Coffee for a final treatment like etching

This is before going into the Coffee solution, the Ferric Chloride tends to make the copper bleed into/onto the steel
View attachment 15141
Click to expand...
typical bloody knife maker dave , go and waste perfectly good coffee just to make a flash knife mate 😂
not that i do any of the Cu Mai steels mate but i like that copper line you have there well done dave 👍
 
sand surfer said:
typical bloody knife maker dave , go and waste perfectly good coffee just to make a flash knife mate 😂
not that i do any of the Cu Mai steels mate but i like that copper line you have there well done dave 👍
Click to expand...
yes it was a difficult decision to put 1/2 a jar of Coffee into a bottle just to soak the blade in over night, but hey it will be wide awake in the morning 🤣
 
bjaay said:
You’ve re awakened my interest in knife making, was always going to try the copper but never got around to it.👍
Click to expand...
yes it's good fun and fills in plenty of time when not out detecting 🤔

One Damascus blade and three Go Mai blades and the Cu Mai blade is the latest one

This is some of the Chefs Knives and Kitchen knives I've made over the last few months
20240924_095907.jpg
cheers dave
 
davsgold said:
yes it's good fun and fills in plenty of time when not out detecting 🤔

One Damascus blade and three Go Mai blades and the Cu Mai blade is the latest one

This is some of the Chefs Knives and Kitchen knives I've made over the last few months
View attachment 15158
cheers dave
Click to expand...
Not sure if I ended up posting final pics of the couple I made but end result.
 

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  • IMG_0657.jpeg
    IMG_0657.jpeg
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Well I couldn't resist, I started another Cu Mai Chefs Knife (small Gyuto style) yesterday, going nicely with the Copper showing a nice pattern either side of the high carbon center core.

Only forged out and cut to shape and ground/sanded with 40 grit to clean it up and start the bevels for the edge.

Now it's been heated and oil quenched and in the Tempering oven at 200 deg C for two hours, then more sanding to finer and finer up to 600 grit and then
fit the handle

this is after heat and oil quench and before tempering
20240928_093004.jpg20240928_092954.jpg
 
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