[Thomp]

I must be getting old or older, or My CRS syndrome has got a good hold on me lately..

Somewhere back in my life i was told a knife that was magnetic or if you kept a knife against a magnet it would seriously effect the knife.. i dont know how now, nor can i phanthom logically how a good chunk of carbon steel could be effected by a maginet..

or that's what i think i remember

Since the tool collection phase of my carving has started I've bought better tools, better means harder steel and most likely to break or chip the cutting edge if it hits the floor.
I already lost a 2mm v gouge this year due to this.

making racks to hold tools takes some serious time, thought, effort, but only lasts till the next phase of buying hits you,,,and keeping them loose in a cigar box isent an alternative,

my thoughts tend to lean towards shelves with little earth magnets burried benith a veneer layer or magnetic strips on them like the ones mechanics stick on the side of their roll away tool chest to hold screwdrivers and plyers....

But
the phantom thought of magnetic cutting edge tools haunts me... and keep me from using them...

anybody?? have an answer .. or heard this before?
Thomas

[AlArchie]

I can only think of one possible problem with that, Thomas. Holding the blades in contact with a powerful rare earth magnet, MAY impart some magnetism to the blade which would then pick up minute ferrous particles. Those then could possibly adhere to the cutting edge and make microscopic nicks as the blade is forced through your wood.

Not being a metalurgist, I have no idea if magnetizing the steel would alter either the hardness or wear resistance of the steel..

Al

[rick-in-seattle]

I built a magnetic rack for flexcut tools with little or no effect on the tools.
It has been in use since 2003 and I have sharpened the tools many times.

Some Soligen and Two-Cherries tools seem magnetised when they are sharpened on a power system.

The metal removed will stick to the edge of the tool which makes it very difficult to see what you are doing.

[Thomp]

Thanks for the replies fellers..

Since i been messing around this razor knife,This all come about worried about the care of such a fragile - brittle blade. as a kid i destroyed a straight razor of grandpa's with 3 whacks at a pine limb.. wish that was all i got for my efforts.
So Ill bet a dollar to a hole in a doughnut that this blade wont make a one foot fall without damaging the blade. therefore i was thinking how nice it would be to have a safe and special place where it cant fall from...

The problem with racks and shelves the point and cutting edge is exposed or in contact with the shelve possibly dulling the tip end of the point. and specific tool racks are definitely a pain when they get filled and you buy one more tool than they will hold.

But a magnetic rack would be something easily rearranged when new tools come in to keep favorites handy and it should hold the tool in place with normal vibrations traffic and such .
---
AlArchie,

Maybe it was mothers saying, Or something my grand paw, father, uncle, father in law said? never the less it makes no logic unless the small particles really dull on the first cut after sharpening.. but the blade could be wiped with a soft cloth to remove them....
---

Rick,
I know what your talking about with the fine abraded fileings following the edge from the sandpaper or wet grinder, it is apparent when using the scary sharp method as well but i find nearly all of my metal tools have some ability to pick up grinder dust.. whether or not they have been used on a motor grinder or motor hone.. i guess i could use the degauss-er to eliminate this if becomes necessary or a problem.

The other thought maybe that earth magnets might be too strong, i got some the size of a quarter, impossible to get them apart without sliding them... so that might be unsafe from the backlash of pulling so hard.. you could loose an ear that way

Thomas

[dryheat]

I’ve been using magnets to hold my carving tools in place for several years with no noticeable harm. Rick has sharpened many of my tools and he has not mentioned any trouble with magnetism. I use quarter inch rare earth magnets and epoxy then into the back of the slot that hold the tools shank. I’ve posted pictures and you should be able to find them with a search. I use my shop for general woodworking as well as carving and need to move the tool rack often. The magnets keep the tools from falling and I find that by placing the rack close and putting the tools back each time I use them they don’t bang together and I don’t have to hunt for them the way I would if just laid on the bench. I believe that if left in contact with a strong magnet for a long enough period of time the tool would pick up some magnetism however, you can get rid of it by passing the tool through alternating current field. I have a magnetizer/demagnetizer that I picked up somewhere (flea market?) and it does both. I’ve use it sometimes when I need to magnetize a screwdriver just enough to do a quick job.

Ed

[Thomp]

dry heat ive looked at your rack & drawer system, and have kept in mind all this while, but chose to make the racjs with wood and pvc back then, but have outgrown them per tool count.. and their aint room for more like i have.. heck im working out of cigar boxed on the front porch mostly now... due to space allication

thanks for comming foward with the support of the maginet idea
thomas

[FK]

I have an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, the magnets will not harm the steel in any way. The only disadvantage is when sharpening the blade,,,steel particles will stick to the knife steel. The simple solution is to demagnetize the blade prior to sharpening. The small devices are inexpensive and will fit in your travel bag of tools.

http://www.wihatools.com/40010ser.htm

Check out the video demo.

Regards,
Fred Krow

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

"Since i been messing around this razor knife,This all come about worried about the care of such a fragile - brittle blade. as a kid i destroyed a straight razor of grandpa's with 3 whacks at a pine limb.. wish that was all i got for my efforts.
So Ill bet a dollar to a hole in a doughnut that this blade wont make a one foot fall without damaging the blade. therefore i was thinking how nice it would be to have a safe and special place where it cant fall from..."

well an easier solution is to buy a pack of those rubber floor mats that lock together, put them where to carve, if you drop a knife or tool, it hits the rubber pad.

[Thomp]

HA!
You know how hard it is to carry a carving to a dr waiting room dont you,

now i got to drag a rubber mat????

just picking..... on you...

by the way your quotes didnt work, i was reading your post thinking how close our lives experiances were and wondering if you had the same grandpaw?