serrated edges

[Steve Milliet]

can anyone help me out on how to make a serrated edge? i've been trying too and aint havin' no luck..........

[Ray Rogers]

There are times when nothing but a serrated edge will do but, generally speaking, they are usually more trouble than they are worth. That opinion may be why you aren't getting any responses on this question.

If you ask 10 guys who make serrated edges how to make a good on you'll get 10 answers. You will have to experiment to find something that works for you.

On the rare occasion when I make one, I usually use round chain saw files to cut the serrations in the edge before heat treating. The size of the files varies with the size of the blade. On a fixed blade knife I might use a 1/8th file and a 3/16ths file. My pattern is to cut one notch with the larger file and two with the smaller and repeat that pattern until I have enough length. Most serrations are cut from one side of the edge only to give a more chisel type effect but that's a good place to start your experimenting. Some serrations I've done work better than others but almost anything that looks like a serration will cut like a serration.

Which, some would say, is a good reason not to bother....

[Colin KC]

Steve,
Whilst at work (no time at home ) I discovered this Austrian site, complete with serrated grinding wheels! Haven't tried them myself, but, you might want to have a look...
Knifeshop.com

Good luck


Colin

[Ray Rogers]

That's pretty interesting. I built a similar cutter using 2" cutoff wheels. They are available in 1/16th thickness and very cheap. Two wheels together make a 1/8th cut, then a spacer, a 1/16th wheel, spacer, another 1/16th wheel, spacer, and then another pair for a final 1/8th. Mount the whole mess on arbor that I made and chuck it up in a mill or drill press. Use water to cool it just like the Austrians said. You can also add or re-arrange wheels for different patterns.

I built that thing to cut serrations into hardened blades. It works slow and makes a lot of heat. For unhardened blades, the files still seem easier....

[Colin KC]

Whatever works Ray, haven't tried serrations myself, but I'd prob go for files on normalised/annealed too.

Just hope it's helped Steve out, either way


Colin

[Steve Milliet]

thanks ya'll, i'll check it out............