3 tools

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Jan 17, 2008
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maybe this is a corny idea but was wondering if you had to make the best knife you could using only three tools what would they be. ;)
 
I'll assume absolutely only three tools.


Flat bastard file: profiling, beveling, etc.

Sandpaper: finishing and clean up as well as sharpening (with high enough grits). Wrap it around the file for some extra umph for cleanup.

Heat treating oven: Gotta have a method of heat treat, and with an oven, you could heat treat and temper. Still have to have a quenchant, but maybe an air cooling steel would work; however, without qunching plates and foil, you will have some troubles.

This is for a full tang, no handle scales knife.

--nathan
 
Belt grinder, forge,tongs. With those you can make a fine blade.


For a more primal , no power, approach:
file, basic charcoal forge ,whetstone or grinding wheel
Stacy
 
How does that saying go?
"All a smith needs is something to heat the metal, (something to hold the hot metal with,) something to hit the metal on, and something to hit the metal with."

Where are all you blacksmiths? Shouldn't you be going on about being able to make all other tools from the basic 3 (4)?
 
For me it would be power hammer, forge, Burr king grinder. and just for fun I think I'll make one using only those three tools and post it here. and I challenge everyone giving opinions on this thread to do the same. also I don't consider water for quenching a tool as long as it comes from the same source as your drinking water, so no distilled or purified water.
 
3 tools. If you can do it with just 3 tools you are far too patient and depraved.:D:D The more tools the better. He who dies with the most toys, er i mean tools, wins right???

I teach the basics at my classes first. Forge file and sandpaper. There are tools that need to be included with the forge like hammer and tongs but still one tool. If you have the forge you can HT in that. Also you do not have to start with flat stock in order to get the right shape. But if you don't want the forge then I would go with Stacy's recommendation.
 
Heck, I considered the Forge and the Press as one tool/process.
Ok - modify.
Forge.
30 ton hydraulic Press. (I could even make pattern welded steel!)
CNC Bridgeport.
Of course, now we've just made blades.
We still need to do handle assembly!
Drill holes, clamp here and there, etc.
I'm with Chuck - the more tools the better!
 
Oh come on Karl. What about the challenge? How about the rest of you guys are you up for it? all the knive done by Blade show, we meet in the pit and compare.
 
mill, tongs, heat treat oven. :D

(I don't own a mill, but I am the only one in my high school to use the one there and I love it!)
 
Oh come on Karl. What about the challenge? How about the rest of you guys are you up for it? all the knive done by Blade show, we meet in the pit and compare.


OK, Bill.
Does the forge/anvil/tongs/hammers all count as one tool?
Then, a file.
Then a brace for drilling handle material.
Handle will be finished with the file.
All done by hand except for the forge blower.
 
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