Knife 30 – Cleaver
This Knife 30 – Cleaver is the last knife of the Knives 23-30 – Kitchen Knife Set .
I had played around trying to build a cleaver type utensil out of some salvaged steel and it kept warping badly when I heat treated it. I tried several things to straighten and normalize the knife several times, but nothing seemed to work, so I was a little nervous when I started this one.
This cleaver is made from 3/16″ 1080. This knife was made with the stock removal process. I copied the pattern of a vintage Dunlap cleaver.
Because of the issues with warping I decided to cut a rough shape and heat treat before grinding the bevel. I knew I would need to be a little extra careful grinding the bevel, but with the ceramic belts and the practice
Since I wanted a traditional finish on this cleaver, I was a little intimidated on sanding it, so I purchased an attachment for my grinder to make it a hook and loop sander. I did help a little, but it tore up disk pretty quick. This is another tool that variable speed is required to perform really well.
To grind the bevel I clamped a straight edge to the grinder table to use as a guide and just slide the cleaver back and forth. This worked very well for me and I continue to use this technique on this style of knife.
Slicing tomatoes is a good knife sharpness test.
A cleaver will have different geometries depending on what it’s intended use is.
- For breaking down carcasses you’d likely choose something like a heavy cleaver with a very high angle edge (60 degrees +/-).
- For slicing off larger cuts between bones and for breaking down poultry or smaller game use a medium size cleaver with a more acute edge…..about 30 degrees or so.
- And for trimming up meat cuts, mincing BBQ, chopping vegetables and general table tasks we’d make a cleaver with a longer and narrower blade, and a sharper edge. Like a heavy knife.
________________
As an Amazon associate, we earn income from qualifying purchases when you click on a link. Your link clicks help us fund our website.________________
[…] size, it took some hand sanding. I used the grinder with an attachment for hook and loop pads (like Knife 30 – Cleaver). It helped a little, but it tore up disk pretty quick. Projects like this make you want a surface […]
[…] I also wanted to try grinding after heat treating before I did it on a full-size cleaver like Knife 30 – Cleaver and Knife 35 – Serbian […]
[…] See more on this style of grinding on Knife 30 – Cleaver […]