Blades for multi - tools

Camillus

Camillus

Joined
Jun 3, 2015
Messages
2,119
I am just starting out in knife making and would like to know whether anyone has experience making small blades for milti tools. I have a Ganzo 201 and the blades are horrible. I would like to swap them out for something made in decent steel, and because the blades are small, i thought it would be a good beginners project.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice? What sort of steel to start with etc.
 
It's a challenging project for a beginner. The size creates challenge, but so does the fitup with your tool. Do you have any prior machining experience? I'm not familiar with that particular multi-tool but it looks like you'd be essentially making a slip joint blade, and creating the proper geometry is necessary for it to work right.
 
I would take the knife apart and use those blades as a pattern. the hardest part is going to be grinding as there is nothing to hold on to. a better beginner project would be a paring knife. don't know if you are doing HT or sending blades out. 80CrV2 or O1 would be good steels to use.
 
scott.livesey said:
I would take the knife apart and use those blades as a pattern. the hardest part is going to be grinding as there is nothing to hold on to. a better beginner project would be a paring knife. don't know if you are doing HT or sending blades out. 80CrV2 or O1 would be good steels to use.
Click to expand...
If he were to do everything aside from the tang end, he would be able to leave some material as an impromptu "handle". Once it is shaped and ground, he could cut and shape the tang end.

With how thin the material would likely be, he could even cut the "handle" off and shape the tang end after HT without too much trouble.
 
My experience with making multi-tool blades has been confined to working with steel that didn't need heat treat after, or was already hardened. You will need to adjust the procedure to allow for decarb, scale, etc. to be cleaned up post HT. As others have said, it will be easier if you can start with a longer piece of steel so you can have a "handle" as you shape the blade. Holding the pivot area with vise-grips while grinding leaves a bit to be desired... Pay attention to the thickness of the original blade, and either eventually grind the material to that thickness, or make sure you have room for thicker material if that's your desire, or can get washers to allow the use of thinner material. If you are changing the blade shape, make sure it will fit and fold into the handle, a plastic or cardboard mock-up can help with this. Drill the pivot hole in your steel stock before grinding anything, use a piece of pin stock, or the pivot pin and line up the original blade over your steel stock. Draw, remove the original blade, then cut, and grind your new blade shape. Line up the original blade again, and carefully scribe around the back end and any lock notches. Consider how far outside the line to cut if needing to clean up after HT.
 
Camillus said:
, and because the blades are small, i thought it would be a good beginners project.
Click to expand...

On the plus side, because the blades are small, this could be done entirely with files, sandpaper, benchtop drill etc. without too much difficulty.
~billyO
 
Thanks all. This is helpful.

Here is a picture of the multi tool in question. Its actually a Ganzo 2016. As you can see, its a nice tool I just can't cope with the poor steel in the blades, and there are extra blades that could be replaced with something more useful (the 'awl', the file and the serrated blade).

DwIPTjY.jpg


Unlike some other multi tools, the tools are separated by washers, adding to the modification options, as I can use different widths.

I will get dimensions and post them shortly, but my next question is where can I find suitable steel for this project?
 
The 440C steel used for these is how they keep them priced at $20.00. Not knowing what steel availability is for you in Australia I'm guessing you will spend 2-3 times the purchase price for blade steel. Do you have a particular stainless steel you want to use if so then you should research availability of steel locally and what sizes will fit your build.
 
Ih6izsr.jpg
Thanks, I do know this is a budget multi-tool, but its nice in hand, good looking, and highly modable due to its construction. It has the 'pick me up and carry me' factor which is so difficult to convey in photos.

All I need to do is unscrew it and I'll have the old blades to use as patterns.

The blades are 2mm steel about 70mm long.

dEDnljn.jpg


So I was thinking of getting hold of some 'better' steel and thought an old file, or a saw blade, might do the trick. I mainly posted here in the hope someone else could give me tips who had done some similar project.
 
If you know for sure that the blades are 440c you might just send them off to be re-heat treated by a professional. That's why the steel seems to be "bad", low hardness.
440c is a good steel if it is heat treated correctly. It'll hold a good edge for quite a while if it's at the right hardness.
Is it the "best" steel out there probably not. It certainly is not the new, cool steel that everyone wants to try out? No deinitely not.
Anyway just something to think about...
 
Files and Saw Blades are generally Carbon Steel not stainless which is what you have now. Is stainless better than carbon...only that it is More Stain Resistant...Carbon Steels on the other hand rust and tarnish without proper care but will produce a fine durable edge. The big problem is sourcing a better stainless in your neck of the woods so to speak. Check with some down under Knife Makers for a source for a better Stainless Steel if that is your end goal.
 
Thanks, I am not troubled which steel to use, I just know that the current steel is only 440C (claimed). Perhaps more important is that there are three blades with limited functionality- the awl, serrated blade and the file thing. These are redundant right now and ripe for replacement.

I thought this type of project would be common - maybe I need to do some better internet searching. Thanks for the help so far.
 
I have several "Multi-Tools" for features other than the KNIFE blade for that I make a REAL Knife to do Knife Tasks. I realize that a multi-tool is full of Gadgets, Files, Saw, Toothpick, Pliers, to mention a few all Gadgets for sure but the Knife is just one Gadget probably good for some tasks not all. 440C when heat treated correctly is a fine stainless steel for reasonable priced items I have used to make at least 50+ blades over the years and seems to work just fine. The New Super Stainless Steels are over priced, but will make fine knives but at a PREMIUM price.

This is the Knife Makers Forum...Check the Multi-Tool Forum maybe get some better feedback there...Good Luck

Mike
 
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