Yes, the outside-inside shop can work, but I wouldn't recommend it if you had access to a shed. Unless you like being at the mercy of the weather, which I know is much worse in the UK than it is the the Great State of Misery. At my parents' house, I do outside-inside but the outside is pretty well-protected from the weather because of the deck situation, and I pretty much only do it when it is nice and I want to be outside, not because I have to.
Nice-looking knife, if you ask me. Are you going to use rivets or just epoxy?
As for sandpaper, that's up to you. Some ppl only go to 600 or 800 grit sandpaper, others (like me) go all the way to 2000 grit. Most are somewhere in the middle. After 1500 grit, your dremel drill's polishing attachments should be able to make a mirror shine on it.
Silver steel I don't know much about. Here's what I've found:
Silver Steel
More Silver Steel Info
Awesome HT Info
This looks like a lot of fun to play with. The technical name I have found for it is BS 1407, and that'll get Google to pull stuff up for you a lot faster than simply "silver steel."
As for heat bringing something up to temp, there's a lot of ways to do that. On very small blades (<10cm) you can sometimes get it up to temp with a small torch using MAPP Gas type of torch. We recently have discussed this sort of thing, and I'm looking to see if I can find the thread. If not, I'll tell you what I can about the subject.
Forge Stuff
Another Thread about a forge, with pictures
Question about propane forge on IG's website Dan Gray's Website, awesome info
Indian George's Website (ie, more awesome info)
Myself, at this point, I use a very makeshift little forge-type device for heat treating. Previously, I have also used a MAPP Gas torch, for my first small projects.
My little thing cost me about $10 overall (I already had a device to force the air in), and that would include the contents of a can of soup and a 6 pound can of beans. I used a large can of beans and cut open both sides (although after making it I'd suggest just a hole for forced air). I cut the soup can in half and shaped it so it sat in the larger can for the charcoal I use to sit on. Then, I used an old Leatherman knockoff's blade to cut some vents in the smaller can's half, and I angled the metal from the cuts so that any air blown under my little makeshift grate would be forced up into the coals. I got a cheap little metal baking pan (slightly stronger than aluminum or tin foil) and filled it with sand, then I set the other device on it and secured it so it wouldn't roll around. Then, I bought regular charcoal to use. I break it up into smaller pieces so it fits better, and thoroughly cover the grate. I don't set the grate all the way back, so there is a pile of charcoal helping to keep the grate in place and having access to the air I force in.
It is very, very rough but I have successfully heat treated with it. I'm going to build a better, more permanent one soon.
If you have any questions, give me a holler. My email addy is Janar_45th@yahoo.com. If you use an Instant Messenger, I'm on those as well.
Good luck, and I hope that I've been a help.
Nice-looking knife, if you ask me. Are you going to use rivets or just epoxy?
As for sandpaper, that's up to you. Some ppl only go to 600 or 800 grit sandpaper, others (like me) go all the way to 2000 grit. Most are somewhere in the middle. After 1500 grit, your dremel drill's polishing attachments should be able to make a mirror shine on it.
Silver steel I don't know much about. Here's what I've found:
Silver Steel
More Silver Steel Info
Awesome HT Info
This looks like a lot of fun to play with. The technical name I have found for it is BS 1407, and that'll get Google to pull stuff up for you a lot faster than simply "silver steel."
As for heat bringing something up to temp, there's a lot of ways to do that. On very small blades (<10cm) you can sometimes get it up to temp with a small torch using MAPP Gas type of torch. We recently have discussed this sort of thing, and I'm looking to see if I can find the thread. If not, I'll tell you what I can about the subject.
Forge Stuff
Another Thread about a forge, with pictures
Question about propane forge on IG's website Dan Gray's Website, awesome info
Indian George's Website (ie, more awesome info)
Myself, at this point, I use a very makeshift little forge-type device for heat treating. Previously, I have also used a MAPP Gas torch, for my first small projects.
My little thing cost me about $10 overall (I already had a device to force the air in), and that would include the contents of a can of soup and a 6 pound can of beans. I used a large can of beans and cut open both sides (although after making it I'd suggest just a hole for forced air). I cut the soup can in half and shaped it so it sat in the larger can for the charcoal I use to sit on. Then, I used an old Leatherman knockoff's blade to cut some vents in the smaller can's half, and I angled the metal from the cuts so that any air blown under my little makeshift grate would be forced up into the coals. I got a cheap little metal baking pan (slightly stronger than aluminum or tin foil) and filled it with sand, then I set the other device on it and secured it so it wouldn't roll around. Then, I bought regular charcoal to use. I break it up into smaller pieces so it fits better, and thoroughly cover the grate. I don't set the grate all the way back, so there is a pile of charcoal helping to keep the grate in place and having access to the air I force in.
It is very, very rough but I have successfully heat treated with it. I'm going to build a better, more permanent one soon.
If you have any questions, give me a holler. My email addy is Janar_45th@yahoo.com. If you use an Instant Messenger, I'm on those as well.
Good luck, and I hope that I've been a help.
) I think Im going to get 200,400,800,1000, do I need anymore? Ohhh and one other thing, Ive been searching for backyard heat treatment, but seeing as my PC isnt very good, google sometimes doesnt want to work, can anyone give me a link or anything which explains how to heat-treat at home?
:
Well since I post those pics I did a little more work, just smoothed all the edges over so the handle is nice and smooth. Off to the sawmill tomorrow to buy some nice-looking hard wood which I will epoxy, maybe pin if I can get a nice drill press. Im pretty pleased with my knife so far, my dad said it was perfect about 10 times but I could see dips in the blade edge so I went back at it with the grinding disc and emery cloth. Just cutting the thing cost me 3 metal cutting discs for my dremel (1 I broke whilst tightening, 1 did most of the work but got eroded too small and the last one, after doing 3secs touch-up work, decided to blow up, thankgod for eye protection 
...stupid me. The BIGGEST thing is to not twist it....NOT ONE BIT!! It is just for straight cuts. (you probably already know, it comes quick with experience) The other thing is just to let it cut on it's own. Grip it tight, but dont push down much at all. You'll get the feel after a while.
Should be getting my bastard, rounded and 2nd cut file tomorrow, and all the sandpaper too. (Thats all i need right?)