Hardening ss

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

I have a new made in England Stanley which I use for bookbinding. The blades are so soft I get through one a night. Although I do sharpen them it has caused a few problems. Is there a way I can harden them please?

Cant send photo but they are marked no1992 and 11-921,if that helps! Thanks very much.

Jonathon

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Stanley’s own solution to the problem appears to be this:

https://www.stanleytools.co.uk/product/0-11-800/stanley-fatmax-carbide-utility-blade-pack-5

… but I have never used them, and frankly I am rather wary of the the description on that page

MichaelG.

.

made from tungsten carbide coated carbon steel and stays 10x sharper for longer

.

Edit: __ to be clear: Tungsten Carbide Coating is, itself, reasonable enough … it’s the usefulness of putting it on a sharp cutting-edge that doesn’t quite convince me.

https://kermetico.com/coating-materials/tungsten-carbide-wc-co-coatings

 

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Jonathon, I would think they wouldn’t be worth the time and cost of trying to harden them, and there is always the risk of making then brittle, which would make them easy to break when in use. These are hardened and tempered, which is done in a controlled process, which I doubt you would achieve at home. Buying them in packs of 100 they cost less than 4 pence for ten, e. g.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-1992-100-Knife-Blades/dp/B0001IW8S8/ref=sr_1_25?keywords=stanley+knife+blade&qid=1707462711&sr=8-25

Other places sell them at a similar price. I have sharpen them myself when I’ve run out, but they don’t keep the edge for very long.

Years ago in my old job, we used them for cutting 30″ wide and about 1/2″ thick reinforced rubber conveyer belt, and we’d get about six cuts before having to turn the blade, but we didn’t have to pay for the blades.

Regards Nick.

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

Thanks Michael. I never thought of looking on Stanleys own site!

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

Thanks Nicholas,I ll bulk buy👍👍

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Ever wondered why they make the blades easy to replace? I have watched carpet fitters at work and they frequently change blades.

Martin C

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

What would be the more traditional bookbinder’s tool used for the same job?

My guess is that it would just be a good bit of carbon steel, sharpened and honed in the traditional manner as it lost its edge.

What I do not know is if it would be single bevel (like a wood chisel) or double bevel (like the Stanley knife blade).

If a single bevel item would work, have a look at some of the Japanese marking knives sold for woodworking. They are usually made of good material.

Blades of the same pattern are made by everyone under the sun, so you might try some other brands (Irwin, Milwaukee, Rothenberger, CK, etc.) to see if there is any increase in performance. The danger is that they are all made in the same factory and just appear in a box with a different sticker on it.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

There’s a number of reviews on the web of different makes, including Stanley 1991,1992, FatMax & Carbide, as well as Milwaukee etc unfortunately quite a few are US based, so those makes might not be available in the UK
There seems to be a difference between makes, some are sharper to begin with, some tougher etc.

Turn the volume down before viewing this one. 😉

Bill

[Nicholas Farr]

On Nicholas Farr Said:

Hi Jonathon, I would think they wouldn’t be worth the time and cost of trying to harden them, and there is always the risk of making then brittle, which would make them easy to break when in use. These are hardened and tempered, which is done in a controlled process, which I doubt you would achieve at home. Buying them in packs of 100 they cost less than 4 pence for ten, e. g.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-1992-100-Knife-Blades/dp/B0001IW8S8/ref=sr_1_25?keywords=stanley+knife+blade&qid=1707462711&sr=8-25

Other places sell them at a similar price.

Wow, less than a halfpenny each, I wish that were true. By my calculation they are 34p each

Ian P

 

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Jonathon, Tool chimp have what appears to be the same blades a lot cheaper than Amazon.

Chris Gunn

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

I should have said £15 25 per 100 or 15p each, plus whatever postage,

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

the std blades should already be hard. They will have been optimally heat treated and it won’t be likely you could make them better.  They are not ss.

Why are they going blunt so quick? What are you cutting? What are you cutting on?

Maybe stropping the blades will help.

 

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I too doubt you could improve the blades. They are disposable, like scalpel and craft knife blades. You can extend their usefulness by wiping them across a diamond slip.

Neil

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

Had n’t expected that much information. I think this type of knife is now traditional bookbinders. Others are so flimsy they can be dangerous. Unfortunately anything from a bookbinders supply would be good perhaps but pricey.

Lot of info on here thanks very much

Jonathon

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

The Stanley blades I have are already extremely hard – try drilling one!

I guess the problem is that though hard they are ground extremely sharp by the manufacturer leaving a very delicate edge.   Paper and cardboard are surprisingly abrasive, so the blades wear quickly, and are cheap enough to be disposable.

I’ve not had any success resharpening one on an oilstone, I think because the metal is harder than the grit.  Anyone had any success with other methods?  I’ve not tried diamond.

Dave

 

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

I could do with a diamond sharpener of some sort so I ll try the blades . Buying new one has got to be simplest way though!

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I sharpen mine on a diamond flat with the blade held in a razor blade sharpening jig, basically two aluminium plates with a wheel in the middle and a clamping screw. I have to say that they turn out incredibly sharp.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

If you use these knives and find the blades tend to snap easily in your application, then get the Irwin blades, they are bi, or tri metallic like good quality flexible hacksaw blades and much harder to snap.

[Jonathon MCParticipant @jonathonmc86670]

Coincidence-I like Irwins hacksaw blades for that reason.

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

The Stanley blades I have are already extremely hard – try drilling one!

I guess the problem is that though hard they are ground extremely sharp by the manufacturer leaving a very delicate edge.   Paper and cardboard are surprisingly abrasive, so the blades wear quickly, and are cheap enough to be disposable.

I’ve not had any success resharpening one on an oilstone, I think because the metal is harder than the grit.  Anyone had any success with other methods?  I’ve not tried diamond.

Dave

 

The SMEE spark eroder used to be demonstrated by boring holes through Stanley blades.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I have followed this thread (and actually posted to it) but only just now realised that the thread contents have very little to do with the title. Stanley (and other makes) of these trapezoidal blades are almost exclusively made from carbon steel. Out of curiosity I tried to find stainless blade and arrived at the conclusion they are as rare as hens teeth, (they do exist though.)

I did find ceramic blades which according to the blurb would last several nights of the OP’s usage (note the finger friendly edge!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Slice-10524-Ceramic-Utility-Blades/dp/B0119PP9MI

Ian P

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

At £6.50 each I think I’ll give those a miss

[Author]

Posts