I read that Teachingclay was given some elevator cable.
"I got ahold of a bunch ,75 feet or so, of elevator cable tonight. Most of it is cut into short lengths to be trimmed to the desired piece later. Turns out its not solid, according to my friend the elevator repairman, none of it is. It has a jute rope core, which would leave a 1/4 hollow in the center."
My understand is: that mild steel is the core of a Japanese samauri sword. When it is quenced the mild steel srinks differently from the high carbon steel and causes it to curve.
My question is if you took the rope out and replaced it with a 1/4" mild steel rod then forged this into a knife blade how do you think it would react when quenched? Would there be enough mild steel to make a difference?
Any ideas?
Thanks for letting me pick your brains. William