I lined the inside of the canister with white out, stacked the rollers inside as tightly as possible and added 1084 powder. Then I welded up the lid making sure that it was air tight. ( you can tell because the canister will pressure up while welding and burning white out will shoot out a hole, let it cool down a little then weld up the last hole) I let the canister sit at welding heat for about 30 min. This might be excessive but it worked. Then I started setting the weld with my flattening dies , then drew it out to about 12" long. After cutting the corners of the canister I used a chisel and hammer to peel the canister off. I ended up with a billet 5/16" x 1 1/2" x about 23" long. The rest was just basic finishing. I used a through tang construction with stainless steel and nickel silver fittings with an axis deer antler for a handle.

Chad,

Looks great. I have some very similar rollers that came out of a industrial pump bearing and have been considering something similar to what you did. Any idea what metal yours were, the spec sheet on mine just says a "low grade" 52100 but I'm not exactly sure what that means.

Andy

Very thorough explanation. Good job.

Nicely done WIP and finish product. those contrast lines are pretty nice!

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Chad,

Looks great. I have some very similar rollers that came out of a industrial pump bearing and have been considering something similar to what you did. Any idea what metal yours were, the spec sheet on mine just says a "low grade" 52100 but I'm not exactly sure what that means.

Andy

Not sure Andy. I figured before I started that they were all 52100 ( bearing steel), but after etching it looks like some of them are different steels. This was just a kind of novelty for me. I work in the oil field and I knew other guys would relate and think it was cool. I don't make a habit of using unknown steels but sometimes it is worth it to give a knife a great story.

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I don't make a habit of using unknown steels but sometimes it is worth it to give a knife a great story.

Same here, I work at a power plant and one of our mechanics gave the rollers to me asking if I could make him something out of them. Just found it funny we had the same idea but I'm glad you took the leap before I did so I know it could work out. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//tongue.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

Nicely done!

Just an idea for the future.... contact Kelly Cupples and get yourself some 1095 powder. Why? See how grainy/gritty the 1084 looks in the finished blade? That's because 1084 powder is a 120 grit mesh at the finest. 1095 is far finer....I can't even guess at the grit mesh.....but it's as fine as all purpose baking flower. All other things in your process remain the same... but the 1095 will NOT show grainy/gritty look in the finished blade(s). <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Nice work Chad and thanks for posting

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Nicely done!

Just an idea for the future.... contact Kelly Cupples and get yourself some 1095 powder. Why? See how grainy/gritty the 1084 looks in the finished blade? That's because 1084 powder is a 120 grit mesh at the finest. 1095 is far finer....I can't even guess at the grit mesh.....but it's as fine as all purpose baking flower. All other things in your process remain the same... but the 1095 will NOT show grainy/gritty look in the finished blade(s). <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Ed you are the man! Thanks for chiming in. How do you know this stuff? I’ll be sure to get some. But really , how did you know that?

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Ed you are the man! Thanks for chiming in. How do you know this stuff? I’ll be sure to get some. But really , how did you know that?

This isn't Ed's first rodeo.

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This isn't Ed's first rodeo.

I had a feeling he has done this a time or twenty...….

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT2iqBBWCTEvc_dhJ8RynPA