Flex/Stress Test Machine. Cold Steel GI Tanto

[Noss]

After some modifications it's time to throw the switch on the flexinator :D

it will take 33 hours to complete one 25,000 cycle/test. The first set is at 10 degrees and the second 25,000 set will be at 20 degrees.

In the video I explain the workings of the machine and set it in motion. I'll make another video after the first cycle in about 2 days.


Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmTx4a0pY8E


Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb7l5tu82H8


http://knifetest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=446&d=1246263759

http://knifetest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=447&d=1246263796

http://knifetest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=448&d=1246263822

[Man of Iron]

Hippies got hightech nowadays. Wonder how the results will be. Good yob anyways.

ps. get a life :p

[culpeper]

Damn Noss, I thought you were just dicking around all the time. This is going to really skull fuck some folks that don't like KT.com. That's a good thing....:rockon:

[Noss]

Thanks men.

Man of Iron: You can not kill that which has no life. :D

culpeper: Yeah I was serious. :eek:

[wildjim]

It slices, it dices, it chops? The Noss Knifeomatic?

A serious contraption. . .

Maybe some music?

No one knows what it like to be the bad Man Behind the Mask (with bruised knuckles and sore arms) and a serious thinker ; )

No one knows what its like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They arent as empty
As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
Thats never free

No one knows what its like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you

No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

: )

Need some video of you watching and waiting, whittling with your Busse, sipping lemonade or drink of preference, maybe wearing a white lab coat also with the hockey mask hanging on the wall ; ) Maybe the face shield is in order if testing a Ka-Bar Becker knife ; )

A blend of old Knife Test and the new automated process ; )

[LoganSackett]

Nice work, Noss.

[Noss]

Thanks men. :thumb:


I finished the first run and the knife failed at the tip were most of the stress is. The only thing is I don't know exacly what number it failed at ? I had a problem with the kill system and it didn't shut off since the knife was still making contact after the break. This is a very easy fix. live and learn. It was around the 20,000 mark. 33 hours is a long time to video tape something so I was not able to change the tape and didn't catch the break and I couldn't read the counter from the last recorded record. So I'm moving the counter near the the tip of the knife so I can get it in full frame.

I have another GI tanto so I'm going to make the adjustments and do it again.

Here are some photos of the failed tip.

http://knifetest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=449&d=1246438678

http://knifetest.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=450&d=1246438712

[kurodrago]

Nice Noss, nice machine too.
However, the next time you fish off G.T tanto I　have to give a ticket:p

[wildjim]

What condition (friction, stress, fatigue) caused the break?

I noticed a burnished spot at the clamp area, does friction at the that spot cause the break?

Is it like bending a coat hanger until it snaps?

Sorry for all the questions I am just trying to understand steel failure.

Thank You,

[Man of Iron]

tensile strength... yummie

mere a suggestion Noss, but it will be more Ski-entifik if you would add this to the results. it's a pity that you cannot repeat the test three times to get a reasonable average... or could you? (just weld it and bend it again :rolleyes: :D)

i'll take a look at the ISO standard concerning kitchen knife and the tensile test

[338 Stalker]

Shit, Noss that's brilliant mate :rockon:

[Noss]

kurodrago: LOL

wildjim: stress, fatigue caused the break. friction shouldn't be involved since the knife is held securely. The marks are from the aluminum black clamped against the knife. Ask all the questions you want. :thumb:

Man of Iron: Yes it's possible to do three knives to get an average. I can do this on the cheaper knives but not on expensive ones. :eek:

338 Stalker: Thanks mate.

[Man of Iron]

just messing with you, an average of 3 says not much more than just one single test. waste of time and money.

[Noss]

LOL !! I'm getting ready to test GI tanto number 2 I'll have the results in a few days.

[Madnumforce]

Why not test what left of the blade? The tip broke, ok, but it's the weekest point of the knife. I think repeat the test with the "full body" of the blade would be interesting.

[Noss]

I can do this also. I can insert the knife 2 inches into the holder then the weak tip will no longer be a factor. I want to finish this next run since it's already started.

[will york]

Congratulations Noss! I know you've been working on that for a long time--good to see it paying off. Nice work, man!

[Noss]

Thanks Will. It should be interesting as more blade are tested on it.

[Noss]

I finished the second knife. This time the GI tanto went the distance 25,000 :rockon:
I'm moving on to phase 2 at 20 degrees.

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8RmnZSDVeQ

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duL2FIUVqV8

[wildjim]

Nice test. . .

I have a few Cold Steel GI Tanto knives, now I have confidence that I can use (flex) the tip of the knife at least 20000 times ; )

I am disenchanted with pricey knives right now since reading of the failures. I am disenchanted with KA-BAR Becker knives as they were so inflated to be invincible by the fanboys, at least I got them at wholesale pricing, otherwise I would've been angry. I wouldn't trust the KA-BAR Becker BK9 beyond my backyard barbecue.


Also the overall knife blade inconsistency is concerning. I wonder where the fault occurs? In the heat treating, design, or steel formation?

Right now I trust the low end Cold Steel 1055 knives and machetes and the Cheaper Than Dirt Rough use knives over the middle ground knives like KA-BAR and Becker, Why pay more? It seems the Busse knives are a sure thing but at great cost. But if I invest a lot of money in knives it will be in Busse knives this day.

[will york]

Do you have enough of the Skinny ASH1 left to do a flex test? Might be an inexpensive way to test some INFI. Or even the FFBM?

Very impressive performance by the CS tanto, IMHO.

[Noss]

wildjim: I hear you. for big work blades I like INFI and inexpensive 1055.


Will: I don't have enough of the ash-1 left and I don't have any INFI from the FFBM left. I definitely want to put Busse in the machine at some point. :thumb:

[G. Scott H.]

Right now I trust the low end Cold Steel 1055 knives and machetes and the Cheaper Than Dirt Rough use knives over the middle ground knives like KA-BAR and Becker, Why pay more? It seems the Busse knives are a sure thing but at great cost. But if I invest a lot of money in knives it will be in Busse knives this day.

I feel the same way. Seems you can't go wrong with a Busse, but I'll have to do a lot of saving to buy one. In the meantime, I'm very happy with the low end Cold Steel blades. They're cheap, uber-tough, and they work just fine. :rockon:

[yerscattergun]

My experience with the tip on a Kabar "Heavy" Bowie:
It snapped like a popsical stick. :mad: Even my Cold Steel Bowie Machete
had a stronger tip...


http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq354/yerscattergun/Roof-8122.jpg

[Madnumforce]

And it's supposed to be 1085 steel... It seems industrial brands are allways trying to pull up the HRC and they mess with the temper. A dull knife is always better than a broken knife, they should remember!

[Noss]

Some of these mass produced blades like the Ka-bars are definitely on the brittle side. They don't handle lateral stress well. If you put them in a bind they can snap like a Popsicle.

Here is an example of this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3564846866_6fc21552be.jpg?v=0

[Noss]

I just completed the second phase of the test. CS GI tanto only made it to 184 at 20 degrees. I captured the break in the video below.


Second GI tanto tested in machine.

Results are 25,000 at 10 degrees. PASS

Results at 20 degrees 184 FAIL



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPrrxuaKznY

[shmoopiebear]

Sorry I haven't been around much gentlemen. Been doing average one to two hours unpaid OT every work day on my new job to keep it. Some how forgot to visit the good guys here to see what's up. Nice to see that you have the rig in testing phase, Noss. Impressive! I am glad I bought three of the GI Tantos based on your testing. The proof is in the pudding. Keep up the great work and will be around more often. Peace.

[Noss]

shmoopiebear I was curious were you went off to. I sure understand about being busy. Thanks.

The GI tantos are a great bang for the buck I've said this many times. I do wish Cold Steel would come out with a more traditional type blade design with the same low cost high performance properties of the GI tanto. They are fun to test.

[wildjim]

shmoopiebear I was curious were you went off to. I sure understand about being busy. Thanks.

The GI tantos are a great bang for the buck I've said this many times. I do wish Cold Steel would come out with a more traditional type blade design with the same low cost high performance properties of the GI tanto. They are fun to test.

That would be nice if Cold Steel made larger, thick bladed "knives" in 1055 steel. A drop point, bowie and spear point similar to the Cheaper Than Dirt Rough Use knives.

[Richard J]

noss. i'm curious to know how much abuse the steel i use can take. i sent you a scrap piece to test. since i dont mess with the ht much thats already in the steel i wonder how good john deere ht is.

[Noss]

Richard. Sounds good. I Just hope it doesn't break my machine. :eek::D