Making your own knife

[b0ogaloo]

Dude

This guy does it with very basic tools

http://www.greenpete.co.uk/?page_id=503


Andy

[MG1]

Guys this is really doable for a novice i'd love to give it ago myself. Keep us updated on how you get on with the knife.

[pablo]

the steel arrived today at my g/fs house so im busting to get cracking at it.

i dont see there being any problem with shaping and grinding the blade ,im a joiner by trade and did a lot of metalwprk in tech as well.

as i said ,all i need is a vice but im sure i can get one pretty cheaply.

i,ll try to remember to take plenty of pics as i go along.




Andy, ive seen yer mans vids b4 and i like the look of his forge. i just couldnt be arsed with all that farting about with an old file 

[pablo]

so ive just opened the cardboard tube and theres three half meter lengths of shiny o1 tool steel flat ground stock nicely wrapped in brown paper.
id been drawing out a rough blade shape and was concerned that 30 mm wide stock wouldnt be wide enough,but it,ll be plenty wide enough for my hands when the handle slabs go on.
must check the flooring stocks for some nice hardwood materiel.

in ten years of laying floors ive come across quite a few bits of weird and wonderfull grained boards but im thinking walnut might be nice,either that or some maple or birch.

[NeilB]

nice one pablo

what type of handle are u putting on katana? and what are using as a forge?

[pablo]

um, i was kinda joking about the katana matey, but if i get the hang of this caper then id seriously consider making one.
as for the forge? im thinking of my bar-b-que with a hose and hair dryer setup.kinda like the `green pete` setup.
im strongly considering buying one of the belt and wheel grinders out of B&Q,theyre about 70 quid but i think id probably get good value out of it.

Andy and i are gonna have a crack at it on saturday as the weathers a bit shit to go camping/kayaking.
watch this space .....

[NeilB]

I thought u might have been joking but same thinking would like to see what the result was.
You could try buy and sell or Ads for free mate to get a belt sander, get 1 for dirt cheap. 

[pablo]

never thought of that mate,must get a copy and have a look.

ive been browsing the internet and getting all the advise i think i,ll need.
some guys recon a good set of files and an angle grinder are all the tools i need. a belt sander would be good for a final polishing of the cutting edge and handle shaping.

i also have a set of diamond stones for my chisels and i can tell you the coarse one moves some metal!!

i think the whole project is going to be worthwhile,gaining the experience and perhaps saving a few quid on something that will last a lifetime.
ive got some nice birch flooring and some `black locust` wood for handles. not exactly the curly birch you see on the knife making forums but it will do for starters 

right,im off to B&Q for a browse.some grinding to do tomorrow so i,ll keep you posted

[billy56]

Would a Angle grinder not heat the blade up too much?
ps I,ve done a little metal working since i served my time as a Fitter/welder

[b0ogaloo]

A few pictures from yesterday

Pictures are'nt the best .. Dunno why but I can never take good pictures in the workshop








Andy

[pablo]

cheers for posting em mate,i cant transfer my phone pics till i get a new pc cable fs.

ive done a little tidying up on a couple of the blades with emery cloth 400 grade and i,ll work down a few grades b4 heat treating them.

wasnt hard at all was it mate 

[Celt_Ginger]

Looking good Pablo. Can't wait for more pictures.

[pablo]

i emailed this one to my hotmail account,some dodgy grinds there lol but good first attempt i recon.

[Celt_Ginger]

They don't look too bad.


This was our first attempt after heat treating and water quenching.

[pablo]

interesting. how does it feel then now youve made it? does it keep its edge ? does it perform all you need it to do?

water quench? dont you use oil then?


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just spotted your earlier post Celt G. page changed b4 i saw it.i,ll give the bar b que thing a go i think after some cleaning up. cheers.