intrex Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Hello Bladesmiths, Let me start by saying that I haven't forge a knife yet. For the past year I have been making small things (bottle openers, tools, etc..). I am just finishing up a project and thinking about trying to do a steak knife next. I have successfully forge welded mild steel in a few projects. For the knives I was thinking about trying to use welded cable. Steel cable is always sitting around at my favorite scrap yard but I haven't picked any up yet. My main conern with using a forged steak knife is maintenance. My wife will definitly eventually put it in the dishwasher. Should I be thinking about doing this in stainless or something else? Any general suggestions for this first knife project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett652 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I am just a noob, but you might try something about the same size, but for fishing or yardwork or whatever, basically a "utility" knife. The kitchen knives that I've assembled have to be "family proof", but the ones I assmbled for my own use (cutting up boxes or whatever) don't have to be stainless/indestructible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Cable, being carbon steel will rust so it's a no go for a trip through the dish washer. I have made kitchen cutlery out of cable (just finished a fillet knife) and you should be prepared for a lot of clean up (grinding). Better to use thin material by stock removal, you save a lot of time. If you don't mind sending your knife to a heat treater then go for stainless. I generally don't like stainless, but in the kitchen it's a very good choice. You should probably practice little on forge welding the cable, it is easy once you get the hang of it but until then it can get frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loneforge Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I can't imagine using the words hand made and dishwasher in the same sentence........Cringe. Your shop your ruiles! :) Like someone mentioned above I wash Immediately after use in hot soapy water and then dry. All my handmade kitchen knives are either Pattern Welded or High Carbon steel....They have developed a nice Patina and are not rusted. If taken care of HC knives will last for generations. Have fun and show pics.....we love pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Hey I made and eating set for camping that I designed to be dishwasher safe---or you can boil it if you wish---hand forge titanium, self hilted blade + spoon + 2 tine fork. Hand made means *you* can design it for the environment *you* expect to use it in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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