Several people have sent me links to a recent publication about a process that increased the hardness/strength of basswood. They then demonstrated the success of their processing by making a knife and a nail out of the wood. See here for an example of one of these articles: https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-create-a-wooden-knife-thats-three-times-sharper-than-steel/
Thanks to the new members of our Knife Steel Nerds Patreon community:
Chris Hancock, Chad Morris, Edward Voss, Liam Gogley, Erik Turner, Nathan Raptis, Nick Dunham, Joe Busic, Will Red Five Forge, Dmitry Kiyatkin, Edward Edmonds, Asinelli, Mattew Reagan, Nate, Dan Barrett, Malachi Chou-Green, Nats Spawnee, McKenzie Kelsay, Jantz Supply, Adam Webb, Brian Baley, Blade HQ, and Mark Demshock.
Thanks to Gerog Belnap, Mingjim Yang, Jay Gonsalves, Reggie Wheeler, Charles Drouin, Daniel Bingham, Charles Platt, and Adam Andreasen for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters!
Video Version
Here is the video version of the following content:
Note: I have a new article on ApexUltra that shows properties of the final product (as opposed to these experiments with “lab scale” production). And also heat treatment recommendations on the final steel. Click here to read the newer article.
Thanks to the new Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! Jason Webb, Miguel Angel Duarte, Jason Ward, Zsolt Papp, Peter Nystrom, Travis Johnson, John Burridge, Chris Warkocki, Michael Steele, Barry Gordon, John Hannaford, and Gregory Horn.
Thanks to Bill Smutz, Alex Topfer, Florian Bachler, Brunhard, Art, Rod H, Sach, Jinny Koh, Jon Duda, Cory Henderson, and UPKnife for becoming Knife Steeel Nerds Patreon supporters! And Michael Fitzgerald, Tim Marais, and Head VI for increasing their contributions. All of the experiments shown below are possible thanks to supporters.
Thanks to Mike Poutiatine, TWJC, Robert Hugh, Head VI, and Snackin for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! I was able to purchase a forge to do these experiments with thanks to the contributions of supporters.
Thanks to Jake Smith, Erik Mittag-Leffler, Ashley Wagner, David W. Debora Richards, gspam1, James Straub, Tim Ottawa, Flynn Sharp Knives, David Millington, Joseph Baier, Alex Roy, and Noah for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! These experiments are very expensive and time consuming so your support is always appreciated.
Thanks to JimHSoars, Gregory Gallant, Dan, Paul Hutchings, Stephen Ostdiek, and Maxi for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters!
YouTube
The following information is also available as a YouTube video for those that prefer watching to reading. The video might be more fun though there are more details and more discussion in the article.
Thanks to Maxi, Michael Fitzgerald, Samy Tammam, Russ Ramski, and Scott Guthrie for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! We are almost to 300 supporters! Wow!
New T-Shirts!
After requests from any kind fans we now have t-shirts available, including an awesome one with the MagnaCut logo on front and knife grinding man on the back. Note it is available in a few different styles and colors. Click this link if you want one.
