I just recently built my first knife, before finding this great site. I would appreciate any critiques and advise you could pass along.
I wanted to make this a budget build and also use as many hand tools as possible. It took me over a month to finish as I had to do it when we were slow at work. I am a commission mechanic but I like to keep busy even if there no cars to fix.
I used the cheapskate method found here as a guide.
http://www.knife-making-supplies.net/cheap-knife-tutorial.html
I started with a pry bar that I purchased from Harbor Freight and rough cut it using an angle grinder.
I shaped the profile with the angle grinder as well. I started the plunge cuts with the angle grinder but quickly found that it was too hard to control the flatness of my grind so I switched to a file. That took the most time.
This was after I sanded the blade.
Next I heat treated the blade. I used an oxy/acetylene torch with a rose bud tip. Heated the blade to a non-magnetic state then quenched in clean 0W20 motor oil. It was handy. I next heated the spine to a dull red with the torch and let it air cool overnight.
I then set to work on finding some cheap handle scales. Just so happens I had a big mesquite tree blow down at my house and the wood has been "Aging" in my back yard for over a year. Cut up a nice branch and found some suitable slices.
I gave it an edge before fitting the handle because I had no idea if it would take an edge. I did so I moved on.
I found some brazing rod under my toolbox and I blew the dust off and used it for my pins. Mixed up some 5 min epoxy and clamped my scales on overnight.
Did my shaping and moved from corse to fine paper.
I then needed some kind of finish and found an old bottle of R12 refrigerant oil that we can't use any more for cars as it has been left open for too long. It's mineral oil so should be better than nothing.
Here it is after two coats.
End of the day glam shot but it still needs more work.
Took it home with me that night and made a quick sheath from PVC pipe. After shaping I gave it a quick coat of Krylon Camo green.
It has excellent retention.
After some more polishing with Flitz metal polish and a t-shirt backed up with a paint stir stick.
Then, as so often is the case with me, I decided to take things one step too far. I layered on cold blue on the blade. I had done this to one of my cheap hatchets in the past after it rusted really bad and since it looked good on that, I figured it would look good on the knife.
I regret it a little. I think it looked better polished in the white.
Any way here she is.
Feel free to do critique this as I want to learn to make the next one better.
Looking to get a belt sander next. Leaning towards a Craftsman 2x42.
I wanted to make this a budget build and also use as many hand tools as possible. It took me over a month to finish as I had to do it when we were slow at work. I am a commission mechanic but I like to keep busy even if there no cars to fix.
I used the cheapskate method found here as a guide.
http://www.knife-making-supplies.net/cheap-knife-tutorial.html
I started with a pry bar that I purchased from Harbor Freight and rough cut it using an angle grinder.
I shaped the profile with the angle grinder as well. I started the plunge cuts with the angle grinder but quickly found that it was too hard to control the flatness of my grind so I switched to a file. That took the most time.
This was after I sanded the blade.
Next I heat treated the blade. I used an oxy/acetylene torch with a rose bud tip. Heated the blade to a non-magnetic state then quenched in clean 0W20 motor oil. It was handy. I next heated the spine to a dull red with the torch and let it air cool overnight.
I then set to work on finding some cheap handle scales. Just so happens I had a big mesquite tree blow down at my house and the wood has been "Aging" in my back yard for over a year. Cut up a nice branch and found some suitable slices.
I gave it an edge before fitting the handle because I had no idea if it would take an edge. I did so I moved on.
I found some brazing rod under my toolbox and I blew the dust off and used it for my pins. Mixed up some 5 min epoxy and clamped my scales on overnight.
Did my shaping and moved from corse to fine paper.
I then needed some kind of finish and found an old bottle of R12 refrigerant oil that we can't use any more for cars as it has been left open for too long. It's mineral oil so should be better than nothing.
Here it is after two coats.
End of the day glam shot but it still needs more work.
Took it home with me that night and made a quick sheath from PVC pipe. After shaping I gave it a quick coat of Krylon Camo green.
It has excellent retention.
After some more polishing with Flitz metal polish and a t-shirt backed up with a paint stir stick.
Then, as so often is the case with me, I decided to take things one step too far. I layered on cold blue on the blade. I had done this to one of my cheap hatchets in the past after it rusted really bad and since it looked good on that, I figured it would look good on the knife.
I regret it a little. I think it looked better polished in the white.
Any way here she is.
Feel free to do critique this as I want to learn to make the next one better.
Looking to get a belt sander next. Leaning towards a Craftsman 2x42.
