MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > Heat Treating and Metallurgy

Heat Treating and Metallurgy Discussion of heat treatment and metallurgy in knife making.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-11-2014, 06:40 PM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
Bronze?

Many makers use bronze for there fittings from time to time.

What is the preferred type of bronze?

I just did some reading and find that many 'bronzes' are actually brass alloys. Some are alloyed with aluminum, iron, manganese, etc.

Is there a preferrence?


__________________
Andy Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/GarrettKnives?ref=hl
Charter Member - Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.kansasknives.org

"Drawing your knife from its sheath and using it in the presence of others should be an event complete with oos, ahhs, and questions."
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-11-2014, 11:20 PM
TexasJack's Avatar
TexasJack TexasJack is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 2,919
Bronze is generally an alloy of copper and tin, while brass is generally an alloy of copper and zinc. There are a multitude of different ratios and all sorts of additives (like lead) that modify the properties of the alloy.

Since a lot of cheap knives from Pakistan and such often use brass, it gets sorta frowned upon by custom knifemakers here.

I don't know that I've seen a particular alloy that's been commonly used around here.


__________________
God bless Texas! Now let's secede!!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-12-2014, 08:43 AM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
I actually don't mind brass and make it a point to completely disregard stigma and popularity in the knifemaking world--it's sort of my thing actually. I made a brass fitted knife a few weeks ago.

That being said, if I use bronze, I want it to be bronze, not some brass alloy that the maker is selling as a bronze just because there happens to be a small amount of tin in the mix. Looking at some of these, they look more like brass (like 385 architectural and silicon bronze).

I also want to avoid oil impregnated bronze, but they seem to have the correct color.

To me, in order to be more bronze than brass, it must have more tin than zinc, but some of these marketers are selling alloys with 15% zinc and 2% tin as a 'bronze'.

Maybe I'm just overthinking this... I just want to be accurate with my clients. If I sell a knife with bronze fittings, that's what they should be.


__________________
Andy Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/GarrettKnives?ref=hl
Charter Member - Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.kansasknives.org

"Drawing your knife from its sheath and using it in the presence of others should be an event complete with oos, ahhs, and questions."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-12-2014, 09:51 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Decatur, IL
Posts: 2,612
From what I've read in some casting books if you want a plain copper and tin bronze you are going to have to make it yourself. All you need as far as material will be the copper, tin, and a deoxidizer. You will also need a crucible and some tong so handle it with and a forge to heat it in. You will also need some protective clothing to protect you as you pour the bronze into a mold.

Sand molds are not that hard to make but lost wax can be a little more challenging.

Doug


__________________
If you're not making mistakes then you're not trying hard enough
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-14-2014, 06:39 PM
GHEzell's Avatar
GHEzell GHEzell is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 591
Phosphorous bronze is pretty close to a classic copper/tin alloy, it just has a tiny bit of phosphorous added. It has a slightly different color than brass, and patinas differently... it also gets incredibly springy when work-hardened. It is a bit hard to find in good sizes for knife fittings.

Most makers use silicon (architectural) bronze, it is also more widely available in usable sizes.


__________________
A good friend told me one time about forging "What is there not to like, you get to break all the rules you were told as a kid, don't play with that it is sharp, don't play with fire, and don't beat on that"
Wade Holloway


See some of my work.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bee, brass, casting, custom, forge, handle, heat, iron, knife, knifemaking, knives, made, make, material, mold, tiny, wax


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bronze ? Aquiles SBC Forum (Sociedade Brasileira de Cuteleiros) 7 05-16-2007 07:09 AM
Needing some bronze.... SPryor Knife Making Discussions 4 05-02-2007 09:25 PM
Bronze-Age Axe Bob Ouellette The Outpost 18 02-12-2006 02:14 AM
Got a problem with bronze Phillip Jones The Outpost 11 05-13-2003 10:26 AM
Bronze cactusforge The Supply Center 7 10-16-2002 02:37 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:06 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved