Curving a blade

[kovalchuk71 212]

Anyone know a good way to get a nice mid curve on a blade without a pro curve thing.....Appearently sher-wwod lied on their chart saying the havlat was a regular when it was a major heel.....What do you guys think?

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

If it's a composite blade, don't do it. The integrity of the blade will be comprimised and the durability of the blade will be seriously shortened. I have heard of some pro's trying to put custom curves on their composites, but they have the money to blow if the blade brakes after a few uses.

Now, if it's a wood blade? Well, then you might have something to work with.

IF wood, then what I have done in the past is first taped the blade (I found this helped not catch the blade on fire - worst that happens is you scorch the tape and the clear coat will last longer this way). After taping the blade, get a bucket of cold water near by. Heat the blade up about where you want to bend it (1 inch to either side where you want to bend it) and bend it in a door jam (i.e., between the door (hinge side) and door frame while the door is open).

When you get the blade about where you want it dump it in the bucket of cold water. Let it sit a bit. For dramatic curve changes it might take a few times before it takes and keeps to the severity that you want (it tends to want to spring back a bit each time).

Wait until the blade is fulled cooled before trying to take the tape off (so as not to peel any of the clear coat off).

If you have to heat it a bunch of times, you might consider buying some plastic coat spray paint and give it a coat or two.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I've tried it with an old Inno Retail(2 months ago). There is a foam in the blade. The foam burn out and there was spaces between the foam and the graphite(I could feel it by pressing a little bit).

[MDE3 0]

It's very difficult not to damage the blade or at least the wrap of the blade when you flame heat it.

Try just using your stove top. Get the element red hot and hold the stick above it, You can see when the epoxy begins to soften..and before it scorches...To get even heat...flip the blade over several times above the element so you get as even a heat that you can. Try to put the area of the blade which you want to curve closest to the element..you do not want to heat (or at least keep the heat to a minimum) the parts of the blade you do not need to bend. I just use to use a partially opened drawer in the kitchen to lock the blade at the point I wanted to bend, and used the shaft for leverage. This is for wood blades only. As has been said before..enough heat to get a composite blade to bend, will change the matrix of the composite.

PS...check with your parents before attempting this...not all will appreciate it. I also used wood blocks on both sides of the blade when I secured it in the drawer...to make a specific curve, and prevent the epoxy from the blade rubbing off on the drawer surfaces. 10 minutes to do this once you get the hang of it.

The key is getting the wood heated through where you need to bend it. Wood has fibrous material which still contains water(sap) and becomes very pliable under heat, so you do not need to exert too much force on the blade to get it to curve once it's hot enough(so you do not damage the drawer). The blade will stay at the required curve as long as you hold the curve until it cools to where the wood is no longer fluid. Keeping a hair dryer handy to cool the blade (use on cool obviously) will speed up the process.

Releasing the blade before it cools will allow the "memory" within the wood to return partially to it's old shape. Always make sure you heat all the parts of the blade which will need to be adjusted, but no more than this, or as little as possible.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Thanks Ogie, MDE3...I will give that a try :)

[LetsGoWings13 0]

a abs blade would be better to curve than a wood blade

[Snap123 0]

How would you curve a composit blade if possible i have a sakic blade i got for free and i want to straigten it out more like an iginla or modano ?

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Talk to Vapor. He's done it sucessfully before.

[Chadd 916]

How would you curve a composit blade if possible i have a sakic blade i got for free and i want to straigten it out more like an iginla or modano ?

It's not worth the attempt. Use it as it is or sell it and buy another blade.