Knife Steel, What Else is There to Know

<p>This episode I welcome Cole Barrett of Blue Mountains Tools to the show to talk about steel. As a very experienced knife maker with a mind cram packed with knowledge, he has done extensive research into different steels and how to get the optimum performance out of them. He happily shares some of that wealth with us.</p> <p>In Cole’s transition from an artist/ painting teacher to knife maker, he has definitely managed to bring some of those skills over into his processes, giving him an artistic and scientific approach to his knife making.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Cole introduces himself and explains how and why he chose his company name, Blue Mountains Tools.</li> <li>Discusses that he works at Gameco artisan Supplies and what he does there.</li> <li>Talks about what sort of knives he makes.</li> <li>We talk about Knife Camp and his probationary membership to the Aussie knife makers guild.</li> <li>The differences between knife camp and the blade symposium.</li> <li>Cole speaks about how many knives per year he was making and speaks about the reasons he no longer does.</li> <li>How his art background helped him get good at knife making faster.</li> <li>What are the different grades of steel and what makes some suitable for knife making and others not.</li> <li>The percentages of carbon and how that affects the steel for knife making.</li> <li>Cole’s 3 categories of steel including mild.</li> <li>Steel choices that are easy to use and easy to heat treat.</li> <li>How freshwater tropical fish relate to knife Steel.</li> <li>How and why people choose specific steels.</li> <li>People’s experiences in using different steels in such things as hand sanding.</li> <li>Cole tells us how he finishes his knives off the belts and doesn't hand sand his knives, and how he gets an even finish off the belt.</li> <li>Why he doesn't generally polish his knives.</li> <li>What a plunge platen attachment is and what he uses it for.</li> <li>The benefits of a disc sander.</li> <li>Do knife customers know enough about steels to choose a