First knife ever.

Y

YouTryna

Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
5
Hey guys, name's Aaron, I think this is my first post...
Well, this is a lot of firsts for me. First time buying a file, tempering it in my oven, first time on a bench grinder, first time grinding metal at all haha, etc...
I'm 20, a "starving musician" and I work in food lol... But coming from an engineering background education-wise I've got a huge passion for edged tools, knives and swords specifically.
Here's what I made from a brand new 6" Nicholson flat bastard file.
All comments are welcome! It was a pretty wacky design at first but I wanted to try and set my personal bar a little higher than just a full flat grind. I had fun and learned a lot, it turned out okay.








 
I'd really appreciate any kind of feedback I can get, any tips for gettin' those bevels flatter with a bench grinder...I'm just gettin' my feet wet making knives.
 
OK, read the stickies.
Buying a new file to turn in to a knife is quite an expensive way to make knives.
Better buy a known steel or used (thin & flat) files. (thrift stores/garage sales etc.)
Flatten the bevels by draw filing them, then hand sand. Start at 120 and work your way up.
 
Well, what that is, is a prison shank by nearly every definition....but it is still your first knife and I know you are proud of it. Make sure you keep it, as it will show how much better you get in a year, if you continue to make knives.

Read the stick tutorial on making a knife as well as the file knife tutorials. There is a lot of info there.
Fill out your profile. Someone who can help you a lot might live right down the street.

A bench grinder is a terrible tool to use for making a knife. You can shape the profile on one, but don't use it for shaping the bevels. Use files and sandpaper.
 
Now you've done it!

That is exactly how I made my first knife. Then I found BF, registered and posted all proud of my shitty file knife and started looking at the masterpieces that the fine folks at Blade Forums make and was quickly and deservedly humbled.

You like sharp things, as do I; keep at it, read lots, look at the pictures in the gallery and for sale forums, most importantly have fun making knives that you like.
 
YouTryna said:
I'd really appreciate any kind of feedback I can get, any tips for gettin' those bevels flatter with a bench grinder...I'm just gettin' my feet wet making knives.
Click to expand...

Not sure if this is what you're referring to, but grinds can't really be flat when using a bench grinder. What you'll have is a hollow grind. If you want them flat, you're going have to use files and sandpaper/sanding sticks if you don't have access to a belt grinder with a flat platen.

Any particular reason the tip is left unground? Atleast, the photos appear that way.
 
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Thank you guys!
First off, thank you Hendelo. I'll post pics of my progress with flattening the bevels. I could only get 220 for the coarsest grit, wet/dry goes down to 120?

Motivated99, yeah I'm sketching some designs along the lines of what you described for my next knife. Probably with a bigger file too. The reason the blade ended up so much smaller than the file was because of the bench grinder. I just couldn't get the bevels right so I kept grinding away 'till I was satisfied.

Bladsmth, I really appreciate your words. I'm gonna fill out my profile as soon as I have time. Also, for the time being, all I have to work with are 2 bench grinders my friends let me use, an angle grinder, a good vice, files, and sanding sticks. But I'm saving up a bit and looking at some small combination belt grinder/disc grinder to get started with the tools. Seems like a good idea.

12345678910, Thanks!!! I mean it. Done and bookmarked.

69_knives, thank you, too. Words of encouragement do a lot more than some people realize.

Lone Fortress, interesting...I thought I could get a flat grind by holding the blade vertically to the wheel and moving it up and down...But yeah it proved quite difficult. Still fun, even after losing my fingerprint lol. But I will keep that in mind.
Also, the tip isn't not ground, I tried to do a main and secondary bevel for the most part of the blade and have the secondary bevel converge with just a single bevel at the tip. Actually came out pretty cool and is fairly sharp after going through the stones.

Rmbonham....yup.
 
egally08 said:
If you'd like, drop me a line, and I will send you a length of actual blade steel to work with. It will also be much easier then trying to shape and grind a hardened file.

Elliotcharlesgallagher@gmail.com
Click to expand...

This is why we need profiles filled out. He could be in Serbia, Thailand,.... or Cincinnati. Lots of makers are willing help out a new maker, if they only knew where he was and a bit about him.
 
Duly noted, my profile has been filled out.

Egally, look for an email from me soon. And thank you!
 
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