Ultimate Disappointment!!!!

[Kevin Evans]

Heres what happened today!!!  

After lunch I was ready to quence the blade ,I have done a few no problems,but when it happened it happened on a good one!!!After 200 layers (folded 4 times)then went through the twist process,then forge blade out,then grind blade,then this happens ,makes me sick!!!
went ahead and etched so you guys could see the pattern      

[Ragnarok Forge]

Sad but happens.  It looks to me like you still have plenty of steel left in the blade to make a smaller knife.  

Did you normalize three times prior to heat treating / hardening?  That can often lead to stress fractures when you harden the blade.

We all loose some pieces no matter how hard we work to make everything go perfectly.

Nice looking piece by the way.

[Dinkee11]

its the weather everything going to xxxx in a hand basket

[kbaknife]

That's too bad, Kevin.
Didn't even crack with the twist, but! it DID crack with the lateral sanding marks.
I would never, and don't ever, quench anything until ALL sanding marks are running the length of the blade, even on the cutting edge.
All a crack needs is the tiniest little place to start, and then it can go wherever it wants.
You did a really nice job on that twist, too.
Back to the drawing board.

[Lin Rhea]

Kevin,
        I feel your pain. I have had some bitter disappointments in the shop. I'm sorry to hear that it happened to you, but you have to expect it now and then. Just one question: why does it happen on the prettiest blades?!! Never on an ugly one! Lin

[Doug Campbell]

Yep, that sucks, what grit did you take it to before HT Kevin? I don't sand to lateral grit lines but do take it down to at least 400gr before HT. Course I lost a real nice CS blade not long ago too...  

[Kevin Evans]

Quinton Rain is a good thing!!

Karl i never thought to horizontial sand, it might have worked on this one!

Thats funny Lin ,Thats what my wife said,had the twist about tight enough for it to look good.Hopefully I can get some folders out of it.I was so mad I went and forged and ground and heat treated two carbon hunters after that.

Well Doug yep it sucks ,puts it mildly,but I will get some good out of it wheater folder or hardware parts.I just go to soft 240 grit before quence,but may start going more if it happens again.

After thinking about it a few hours,I think I might of had a inclusion at the cutting edge and instead of making sure I had it out ,I went ahead and quenced because I thought I needed the blade (10"er)to have that much belly for the type of knife I was making.Therefore it was my fault and won't happen again!!Stupid mistake by a beginner!!

[Steve Nuckels]

Ouch!  Sorry Kevin!  I'm sure alot of work!  Very cool blade!

Steve
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Potomac Forge
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IN GOD WE TRUST

[prarieboy]

Oh Cra- Kevin ! But You already stated what makes trad gangers great.Gonna pick up da pieces and git on with life.Hang in there Bro!

[Dan White]

Kevin,
     Is that from the billet you twisted a couple of Saturdays ago? That sucks!

[OconeeDan]

Drats!

Maybe you can make into a stubby skinner?