First go at it..

Hawk45

Hawk45

Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Messages
2,154
Started my first knife last night. I'm making a small fixed (possibly neck knife) blade. I'm using Aldo's 1084* (nice stuff) and it's been pretty easy so far with my limited tools and expertise. I started with about a 5" piece of 1 1/4" x 1/8" (from a 4' bar) and made my template free-hand. I don't have a power sanding belt so I used what I had around. I mounted my grinder w/ a cutoff wheel to a piece of plywood. I use a quick release clamp to keep it running while working. A simple pop of the quick release lever and it shuts off. It's ugly and crude but works. I then mounted to a sheet of MDF for my work table. This sits on saw horses outside in the back. Gloves, eye protection, resperator and hearing protection all on, I began grinding out the basic shape. I use a loose piece of plywood to hold the steel against while I work it against the grinder (never pushing too hard or from the side so the cutoff wheel doesn't explode).. VERY IMPORTANT!! Keep a liter mug of water next to to cool the blade down every few seconds. Took about 30-40 mins to get a decent shape. Off to the vice for filing.

Snugged up the blade in the vice and began taking off the crude edges from the grinder. Some of the spots that got too hot were hard to file (lesson learned) but none were deep enough that I couldn't get out with a little extra work. Have a semi-final shape now and will work on the ergos before trying to take out material from the center of the handle to lighten up and put in the lanyard hold. I'll follow-up as I do more. The bevels will be next... NERVOUS!!

Here are a few pics:
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Wow, I have never seen a set up quite like that. Be really careful.

Your profile looks nice.
 
First off, Aldo sells 1095 and 1084 but not 1085. Simple mistake, I'm sure.

But more importantly do not, for the love of all that is good in this world, use that death trap again! Hand held power tools are meant to be held in your hands. That is a major accident waiting to happen. Those cutoff wheels are brittle and can easily break if you put too much pressure on them.

Your knife profile looks good but your widdowmaker looks horrible.
Jason
 
Edit on the 1084... thanks.

Yeah, it's not ideal by any means. I've chopped everything under the sun with grinders for a long time and agreed, it's not ideal, but it's what I have to work with at the moment. I tend to be very McGyver-ish and it actually works very well going nice and slow.

So I've been taking 10-15min though-out the work day and working on my bevels.. This is the first time I've used files extensively for metal removal and find I much prefer the 10" to the 12". Also, the file brush I was teetering on when buying supplies.. best buy ever. I don't know how anyone could do metal work with files and not have one. Just something for the noobs like me getting into this. Get one! I do about 10-15 strokes, depending on pressure and material removal, then flip the file and do the same. After 10-15 strokes on side two I clean over my trash can.

Latest picture:
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Lookin good, a few of my first 10 or so knives I made with a file. I reccomend that everyone tries it experianced or not, you will learn proper file use.
Also I noticed the reloading gear in the background, any good .308 recipes?
Jason
 
Your filing setup looks good. Personally I would put the entire blade on the wood for support rather than have it hang off the end. I would be afraid that I would bend it in the process of filing it. Don't forget to drill your holes before hardening it.

You're coming along real well. Keep us updated please.

- Paul Meske
 
Dang man, that's a good idea using the ruler for a guide. I will have to use that. I think I'm going to use files for my next one as I have messed up two pieces of steel so far with the grinder. Time to slooooowwwww down. :)
 
Hi all, I am an outdoorsman probably like a lot of you. I want to get into making knives. I have no experience, but I would like to start. I don’t have any tools yet other than hand tools I used when I was a telecomm technician. I do realize I’m going to have to invest into some equipment. I was thinking maybe I would start off buying steel blanks already cut and ready to go. Then start with making custom handles out of bone or stag. If I do it that way what would be the absolute must have equipment to purchase first? Where would you recommend buying blanks?
 
jason29681 said:
Hi all, I am an outdoorsman probably like a lot of you. I want to get into making knives. I have no experience, but I would like to start. I don’t have any tools yet other than hand tools I used when I was a telecomm technician. I do realize I’m going to have to invest into some equipment. I was thinking maybe I would start off buying steel blanks already cut and ready to go. Then start with making custom handles out of bone or stag. If I do it that way what would be the absolute must have equipment to purchase first? Where would you recommend buying blanks?
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Hey guy,
I think your trying to start a thread?
 
Next time, just lock the steel in a vice and hand hold the grinder. That's how I rough profile mine before moving to the belts. Cut with the thin disk then put on a grinding disk if you want to do more shaping that way before filing. I might reposition it two or three times for some shapes but it's safer.
 
Put handles on your files. You'll have more control that way and they lay better in your hands
 
JBS TOOLMAKER,
Yeah, I reload for .308 for bolt and semi AR10. I've been using once fired Lake City brass for years but finally am transitioning my bolt over to Winchester brass. I can send you some load data but it's really going to depend on what your specific rifle likes. Hit me up with a PM if you want my notes. SnipersHide has a really good reloading section and a dedicated .30 cal thread with good stuff in the sub forum. I mostly use Varget, CCI standard primers and Forester dies. Get a chamber gauge and OAL length gauge so you know how far out your lands are if you don't have already. I'm no master reloader but again.. I love time consuming expensive hobbies :-)

lonepine, Remyrw, Hengelo_77,
Thanks for the advice and tips.. I'll give them all a go. Always looking to improve the process. Cheers!

jason29681,
No worries brother.. lots of good online stores (Jantz,USA Knife Maker, Knife Supply, Texas Knife). Starting with a blank is fine, but for the price of a blank, you can get 4 feet of Aldo's 1084 in 1" x 1/8". Shipping is not bad but I'd buy like $50 worth to have around. Get a variety for future projects. Handle meterial.. I'd start with stuff on sale or cheaper grade stuff unless you know you have the skill to work the material properly. Wood is a good place to start, and you can always replace with the good stuff later once your skills are up to snuff. For this build I used a grinder and files only.. and the grinder just to get the shape. Only files for the finishing of the shape and the bevels/edge.

medicevans,
Thanks brother, yeah.. SLOW... D.. O ..W..N :-)
Take the time to enjoy the process and be as particular as possible. Act as if this blade will be going into a show for judging, and winner gets a date a date with Mila Kunis, or a free KMG and limitless material, which ever floats your boat more.

Thanks for all the help everyone and comments. More to come. And only one bloody knuckle so far!!
 
Bleeding on your work is sorta like signing it. Eventually you'll discover better ways to sign your work, but for now don't begrudge the blades their fair share of your DNA. :)
 
tryppyr said:
Bleeding on your work is sorta like signing it. Eventually you'll discover better ways to sign your work, but for now don't begrudge the blades their fair share of your DNA. :)
Click to expand...

Yep,they all extract some.
Nice work Hawk
Stan
 
More filing today and a little drill and dremel work, but she is coming along nice. I added a few aesthetics to this one to see how it would turn out.. some are decent.. some not so great. I like everything but the jimping I put on top, I tried with my dremel cut wheel and yep.. you guessed it.. suck! They aren't bad from a far but up close they are different sizes and a bit too deep and sharp. Oh well.. I have plenty more stock to work with. Next time I'll stick with the file. Need to get some needle files this weekend. I'm going to sand out some of the deeper file marks before heat treat to make things easier post HT. I knocked all the edges off the whole thing and put a swedge on top. Left .050" on the edge for the HT also, probably could have done a bit less (.040") since it is a small blade but I'm going to do a convex grind on this one so I won't mind the thicker edge to start up with again. Man, this is fun!!!

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Man that looks really nice. I hope my first one comes out half as nice.

I started cutting my blank today with a hack saw, and it is a pain in the butt. Fun, but slowwww going.
 
Wow that looks good! I can tell you put some hard work into that. Good job!

I am the newest nube here so dont take anything I say the wrong way, so how do the rivets work with this knife, why don't the holes go all the way through?
 
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