plasma cutter

[jacob7]

Guys can you use a plasma cutter to cut out the pattern for a stainless knife or is it too hot?
Thanks

[Doug Lester]

It would leave a rim of hardened steel around the knife blank from where the steel air quenched.

Doug

[DwaneOliver]

I cut all of my blanks out with a plasma cutter. I always leave a bit extra to grind off on the cutting edge, in case there is any decarb there.

Dwane

[JawJacker]

Dwayne, do you free hand it? or use a jig for the cut. Whats a bit extra 1/4 in?

[AUBE]

Dougs right about the hardened area...even an oil hardening steel can harden from plasma cutting because the steel sucks away the heat pretty fast.

If it was overheating the steel you were concerned about this area is pretty small and can be cleaned up like Dwayne mentioned. The HAZ (heat affected zone) is pretty small with plasma and you only need to remove about 1-2mm...which you often need to do when cleaning up the jagged cut anyway.

[huntforlife]

It makes quick work of shaping the blade, but it does leave the edge hardened and makes it hard as heck to profile. I did it once on a batch and wont do it again.

[DwaneOliver]

Freehand and like mentioned, just a 1/16". I'm not very steady handed, so it ends up about that anyway.
When I cut high carbon steels, I always throw em in the oven at 1500 for 10-15 min then let me cool slow to anneal. Makes grinding em up a lot easier.