A couple questions.

H

Hustle US

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May 10, 2017
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so I have and old hickory filet knife I cut into four pieces ( handle from blade then handle in half longways then the blade in half short) I was wondering if I could get away with just burning the partial tangs into wood handles then apoxy with no pins. Also wondering if from the cutting I would need to re heat treat them. By the way I'm going for carving knifes and would of course have to still shape them. I did dunk in water to cool between cuts. The metal is high carbon and not sure of the handle material but plan on some type of wood.
 
You probably weren't joking with us, but I suspect most who read it didn't reply because they thought you were pulling our leg.

The issue in your post is obvious:
If you cut a file in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise, it must not have been hardened. I have a shop full of equipment, and couldn't have done that with a regular file.

Buy a piece of 1084/1095/O-1 or similar basic carbon steel and make the blades from that.
 
Not that I'm disagreeing with you Stacy, but he said filet knife, not file. I just can't imagine how you possible have enough for 4 blade from a filet knife. Did you use a plasma cutter or oxy/ace torch? Second, not much discussion on here for "burning in" the tang since we aren't time limited like on FiF. There are much better ways to do things than "burning in" the tang.

60" of 1/4" 1075 from Admiral only costs $14. Using known steel is cheaper, easier to grind, easier to HT, and just plain easier.
 
The only thing I was picturing in my mind are small whittling knives. If that's the case, OP you're definitely going about it the hard way.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
You probably weren't joking with us, but I suspect most who read it didn't reply because they thought you were pulling our leg.

The issue in your post is obvious:
If you cut a file in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise, it must not have been hardened. I have a shop full of equipment, and couldn't have done that with a regular file.

Buy a piece of 1084/1095/O-1 or similar basic carbon steel and make the blades from that.
Click to expand...
Mr. Apelt, I think he is referring to repurposing an Old Hickory knife (made by Ontario Knife Co.).
Hustle US said:
so I have and old hickory filet knife I cut into four pieces ( handle from blade then handle in half longways then the blade in half short) I was wondering if I could get away with just burning the partial tangs into wood handles then apoxy with no pins. Also wondering if from the cutting I would need to re heat treat them. By the way I'm going for carving knifes and would of course have to still shape them. I did dunk in water to cool between cuts. The metal is high carbon and not sure of the handle material but plan on some type of wood.
Click to expand...
Hustle, If you managed to cut the knife with a saw, you have a blade that has lost its heat treat (somehow got too hot in its past life). If you used some sort of abrasive to cut it, like a cutoff wheel, you likely got it hot enough to damage the heat treat even though you were dunking it in water. Either way, you should follow Mr. Apelt's advise and start with a soft piece of known knifemaking steel, shape it, then harden it. I would recommend spending some time reading the stickys, especially the "Count's standard reply", found here: http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sticky-threads-all-the-good-info-you-want-in-one-place.1052730/
Epoxying a handle without pins can be done, but is quite risky, and not recommended. Basic hardware store epoxy is a poor choice especially if you want to do a no-pin handle. West Systems G-Flex or a comparable product would be a much better choice.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress!
 
AlaskanHunter said:
Mr. Apelt, I think he is referring to repurposing an Old Hickory knife (made by Ontario Knife Co.).

Hustle, If you managed to cut the knife with a saw, you have a blade that has lost its heat treat (somehow got too hot in its past life). If you used some sort of abrasive to cut it, like a cutoff wheel, you likely got it hot enough to damage the heat treat even though you were dunking it in water. Either way, you should follow Mr. Apelt's advise and start with a soft piece of known knifemaking steel, shape it, then harden it. I would recommend spending some time reading the stickys, especially the "Count's standard reply", found here: http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sticky-threads-all-the-good-info-you-want-in-one-place.1052730/
Epoxying a handle without pins can be done, but is quite risky, and not recommended. Basic hardware store epoxy is a poor choice especially if you want to do a no-pin handle. West Systems G-Flex or a comparable product would be a much better choice.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress!
Click to expand...
Yes I just don't have the money to buy metal I did use a cut off wheel and the only reason I say no pins is because they are pretty small knifes but maybe I'll just wait awhile and buy some 1095 and start from nothing.
 
Atlas Knife Company said:
Not that I'm disagreeing with you Stacy, but he said filet knife, not file. I just can't imagine how you possible have enough for 4 blade from a filet knife. Did you use a plasma cutter or oxy/ace torch? Second, not much discussion on here for "burning in" the tang since we aren't time limited like on FiF. There are much better ways to do things than "burning in" the tang.

60" of 1/4" 1075 from Admiral only costs $14. Using known steel is cheaper, easier to grind, easier to HT, and just plain easier.
Click to expand...
Not gonna lie I did get the burning in thing from forged in fire just figured with such small tangs it would be easier then cutting a piece of wood in half just to glue it back together later tonight I'll take a picture of what I have. And as for the cutting I used an angle grinder and a cutoff wheel and repeatedly dunked in water.
 
Anyone know if the steel they sell at ace hardware is good metal ? They have flat stock and other stuff but is it worth making anything out of?
 
No it will not be steel suitable for a knife.

It would be the best plan to get a few pieces from somewhere like USA Knifemaker or Alpha Knife Supply. As Stacey mentioned, 1084 and even 15n20 would work really well for what you are wanting to do.
 
My error. I scan so many threads that my mind fills in the details wrong sometimes. I now see it is a fillet knife not a file.

Will it work, yes. But as said, it is the hard way to get some carving knives. Edge quality and hardness will be hard to know about until you have them done.
 
If all you want is some little carving knives, you can probably shape your little blade pieces and re-quench and temper them...
Do a lot of research here though about using canola oil, and find out what Old Hickory blades are (1095?) and treat accordingly.
Tangs to be burned need to go into a drilled hole at least. All the burning does is finish shape the hole to the shape of the tang. On FiF sometimes they don't seem to understand that. You'll need to harden the blades after burning the handles most likely.
Then just use epoxy, it will hold likely enough for a while or perhaps longer.
You'll end up with some possibly usable tools, but have an adventure along the way and learn some things about what to do better next time. Should be fine, but don't get hurt somehow in the process...
 
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