http://bessex.com/forum/ Mon, 18 May 2026 05:03:31 +0000 MyBB http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=541 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 05:13:28 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=541
I use Viel S-5 belt grinder for sharpening. Recently I have been having problems with static electricity. It gets worse when using a Trizact belt or leather belt. Do you know any solutions?]]>
I use Viel S-5 belt grinder for sharpening. Recently I have been having problems with static electricity. It gets worse when using a Trizact belt or leather belt. Do you know any solutions?]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=512 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 17:41:04 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=512
Mark was among my very first customers and that's how our long association began.  Our first meeting over the phone lasted well over an hour.  Beginning with that first call, Mark was never just a customer. Much more than a customer, Mark was always a friend, an adviser, a mentor and a confidant. I,  the BESS Exchange, his friends and family, knife makers and blade smiths everywhere, will suffer his passing greatly and forever.]]>
Mark was among my very first customers and that's how our long association began.  Our first meeting over the phone lasted well over an hour.  Beginning with that first call, Mark was never just a customer. Much more than a customer, Mark was always a friend, an adviser, a mentor and a confidant. I,  the BESS Exchange, his friends and family, knife makers and blade smiths everywhere, will suffer his passing greatly and forever.]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=497 Sun, 29 Sep 2019 15:27:14 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=497

               
  Throwing Tomahawk and ax.JPG (Size: 72.95 KB / Downloads: 8)


Apparently they lack only one feature Mark - altitude control. I received this picture from Josh with the message "OOPs" along with it:

                
  Tomahawk.jpeg (Size: 1.13 MB / Downloads: 7)                         
  Tomahawk Close.png (Size: 360.08 KB / Downloads: 7)

When I was a kid Mark, I flung every hatchet I could find at every tree on the place and spent hours and hours doing it. These axes and tomahawks are four or five leagues above those old projectiles. I understand that there is now a resurgence of tomahawk and ax throwing going on and it's easy to see why. It's just a ton of cheap fun!]]>

               
  Throwing Tomahawk and ax.JPG (Size: 72.95 KB / Downloads: 8)


Apparently they lack only one feature Mark - altitude control. I received this picture from Josh with the message "OOPs" along with it:

                
  Tomahawk.jpeg (Size: 1.13 MB / Downloads: 7)                         
  Tomahawk Close.png (Size: 360.08 KB / Downloads: 7)

When I was a kid Mark, I flung every hatchet I could find at every tree on the place and spent hours and hours doing it. These axes and tomahawks are four or five leagues above those old projectiles. I understand that there is now a resurgence of tomahawk and ax throwing going on and it's easy to see why. It's just a ton of cheap fun!]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=457 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:39:21 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=457
If I get a knife tested ( at the thickest part of the blade) does the included angle of the blade, even though it is very small, give results different than those of heat treated flat stock?

Thanks all,

Sam]]>
If I get a knife tested ( at the thickest part of the blade) does the included angle of the blade, even though it is very small, give results different than those of heat treated flat stock?

Thanks all,

Sam]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=423 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 05:32:01 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=423
What is the best choice?

And what compound is your recommendation?]]>
What is the best choice?

And what compound is your recommendation?]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=405 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 17:37:09 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=405
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7M7YLl0R-/...z62xkqqnk7

Thomas]]>
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7M7YLl0R-/...z62xkqqnk7

Thomas]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=397 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 04:36:21 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=397  
What happens to hardness if a blade is tempered more than once? 
 
How is hardness is changed if a blade is tempered to 450° the first time and then, say, 300° the next time?
 
Or, conversely, 400° the first time and 600° the second?
 
And lastly, how long does a blade have to be at tempering temperature to make a difference?  What if the blade only reaches tempering temperature for a few seconds and then was allowed to air cool?]]>  
What happens to hardness if a blade is tempered more than once? 
 
How is hardness is changed if a blade is tempered to 450° the first time and then, say, 300° the next time?
 
Or, conversely, 400° the first time and 600° the second?
 
And lastly, how long does a blade have to be at tempering temperature to make a difference?  What if the blade only reaches tempering temperature for a few seconds and then was allowed to air cool?]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=382 Sat, 15 Sep 2018 01:43:11 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=382 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=378 Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:15:29 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=378 Getting fall-like around here, which means I need to get back in the shop and start playing with some ideas.

I came across some O1 tool steel scraps from previous blades, or blade attempts.
None of them would make good stock for a full blade, but they should have some use.

Here is the idea that I have been thinking about, and it may or may not be a good one.

Also in the scrap bin is a fair amount of 304 Stainless.


I was thinking of TIG welding a 1/2" piece of O1 onto a SS blank, then shaping, then HT.
The O1 being the blade edge.

Is this just a ridiculous idea?

Often when I am welding carbon steels, I will use 316L SS filler rod as it is said to make a stronger weld.

Over the years, I have TIG welded a lot of SS and have developed some skills in minimizing warping and such.

Any thoughts are appreciated, but please don't send a van with dudes in white coats to pick me up ]]> Getting fall-like around here, which means I need to get back in the shop and start playing with some ideas.

I came across some O1 tool steel scraps from previous blades, or blade attempts.
None of them would make good stock for a full blade, but they should have some use.

Here is the idea that I have been thinking about, and it may or may not be a good one.

Also in the scrap bin is a fair amount of 304 Stainless.


I was thinking of TIG welding a 1/2" piece of O1 onto a SS blank, then shaping, then HT.
The O1 being the blade edge.

Is this just a ridiculous idea?

Often when I am welding carbon steels, I will use 316L SS filler rod as it is said to make a stronger weld.

Over the years, I have TIG welded a lot of SS and have developed some skills in minimizing warping and such.

Any thoughts are appreciated, but please don't send a van with dudes in white coats to pick me up ]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=352 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:49:34 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=352


https://www.facebook.com/michael.howe.94...29854/?t=0]]>


https://www.facebook.com/michael.howe.94...29854/?t=0]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=342 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 22:57:13 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=342 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=335 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 20:08:32 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=335
He is mostly famues for his armour and especially his helmets. Along steel quality nerds he is famues for his steel quality and special hardening - never seen after him before 1950.

Search on his name and read about him and his blank weapons and armour if you are interested

Thomas]]>
He is mostly famues for his armour and especially his helmets. Along steel quality nerds he is famues for his steel quality and special hardening - never seen after him before 1950.

Search on his name and read about him and his blank weapons and armour if you are interested

Thomas]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=330 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:02:39 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=330 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=293 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:39:38 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=293
This is a normal example of a full size hunting blade;

https://youtu.be/JlUxGO3wt5c

This is the result. You can see that a little of the light scale has popped off, maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up the blade from the edge. This is just right, because more of the edge will actually be hard, as you will see after the blade has been etched.

https://youtu.be/6RoOZW9978g]]>
This is a normal example of a full size hunting blade;

https://youtu.be/JlUxGO3wt5c

This is the result. You can see that a little of the light scale has popped off, maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the way up the blade from the edge. This is just right, because more of the edge will actually be hard, as you will see after the blade has been etched.

https://youtu.be/6RoOZW9978g]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=283 Mon, 19 Feb 2018 21:43:26 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=283

If you look toward production knife design, you will notice Wharncliffe blades are becoming quite popular. If you've been paying attention to what I've been making since 2013, you'll know I've been EDC carrying, and promoting them prominently for many years, which is why they are so popular on my order list today.



]]>

If you look toward production knife design, you will notice Wharncliffe blades are becoming quite popular. If you've been paying attention to what I've been making since 2013, you'll know I've been EDC carrying, and promoting them prominently for many years, which is why they are so popular on my order list today.



]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=282 Mon, 19 Feb 2018 21:08:39 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=282
This is specifically in response to Mr. Grepper's call for re-posting pictures that got erased by the miserable photobucket fiasco. 

It's the best full tang knife I've ever made, which is easily one of the best blades I've ever finished. 

This knife was commissioned by a Gentleman I hold in very high esteem. I get to call him "Family" because we are that close, and we've always been that close. His family lived next door to my Mom's folks, and the Mortimers and Richards kids (Jim and Sam Mortimer, my Mom, Aunt and Uncle) grew up together, and are inseparable. 

There is something about this knife that draws people, and those who hold it in their hands are always inspired. It's heft and balance, the organic beauty of the blade, the ancient  mammoth tooth and mammoth ivory, combine into something far greater than the sum of the materials.

I'm fairly certain this knife will find it's way into an article in Knife Magazine within the next few months. If you're familiar with knife publications, that will mean much more than I'm capable of expressing. Blade magazine may be popular, but I wouldn't use it in the outhouse. 

I'm not much of a photographer, so these will have to suffice for now.
















]]>
This is specifically in response to Mr. Grepper's call for re-posting pictures that got erased by the miserable photobucket fiasco. 

It's the best full tang knife I've ever made, which is easily one of the best blades I've ever finished. 

This knife was commissioned by a Gentleman I hold in very high esteem. I get to call him "Family" because we are that close, and we've always been that close. His family lived next door to my Mom's folks, and the Mortimers and Richards kids (Jim and Sam Mortimer, my Mom, Aunt and Uncle) grew up together, and are inseparable. 

There is something about this knife that draws people, and those who hold it in their hands are always inspired. It's heft and balance, the organic beauty of the blade, the ancient  mammoth tooth and mammoth ivory, combine into something far greater than the sum of the materials.

I'm fairly certain this knife will find it's way into an article in Knife Magazine within the next few months. If you're familiar with knife publications, that will mean much more than I'm capable of expressing. Blade magazine may be popular, but I wouldn't use it in the outhouse. 

I'm not much of a photographer, so these will have to suffice for now.
















]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=270 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 15:21:56 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=270 I am about to embark (finally!) on getting my 2x72 Kally table/stand built.

Just curious about the table space it will sit upon.
Was thinking a 3/8" steel plate around 16x16" as the top surface with the grinder toward the front edge.

But, I know little about all of this still, and was hoping y'all can give me some tips on what you have done right, and what you would do differently.

Pictures, being worth 1000 words, would be great!

Thanks!
TW.]]> I am about to embark (finally!) on getting my 2x72 Kally table/stand built.

Just curious about the table space it will sit upon.
Was thinking a 3/8" steel plate around 16x16" as the top surface with the grinder toward the front edge.

But, I know little about all of this still, and was hoping y'all can give me some tips on what you have done right, and what you would do differently.

Pictures, being worth 1000 words, would be great!

Thanks!
TW.]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=245 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 18:09:21 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=245 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=244 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:10:24 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=244 This one?]]> This one?]]> http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=238 Fri, 05 Jan 2018 15:56:47 +0000 http://bessex.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=238
For the time being I am calculating how long and how thick heating kanthal wire I need. Preliminary results are, that I need 20 meters of kanthal wire of 1 mm (or 0.04") diameter.

This should support 1600 W input power and max. kiln temperature of some 2000°F. The kiln size is 3x4.5x12". Quite challenging is to calculate the diameter of the heating spiral so, that it can be accommodated in the side walls of the kiln. The heating spiral must be stretched so that its threads do not touch each other.


  IMG_5121.JPG (Size: 235.09 KB / Downloads: 17)

Simultaneously I am considering suitable PID temperature regulator.

Jan]]>
For the time being I am calculating how long and how thick heating kanthal wire I need. Preliminary results are, that I need 20 meters of kanthal wire of 1 mm (or 0.04") diameter.

This should support 1600 W input power and max. kiln temperature of some 2000°F. The kiln size is 3x4.5x12". Quite challenging is to calculate the diameter of the heating spiral so, that it can be accommodated in the side walls of the kiln. The heating spiral must be stretched so that its threads do not touch each other.


  IMG_5121.JPG (Size: 235.09 KB / Downloads: 17)

Simultaneously I am considering suitable PID temperature regulator.

Jan]]>