first knife project

[bzzhewt]

Hi Guys!

I am going to try to attempt my first knife and have a few questions:

I only have a bench grinder (speed, grit, and age unknown) with no spare wheels or attatchments, a power sander (the vibrating kind), and a hacksaw.
that's just about it. I plan on annealing and hardening with a torch and tempering in an oven. I read Wayne Goddard's $50.00 knife shop and am going to attempt doing this in the most ghetto way possible, not because i want to, but because I literally cannot afford ANYTHING else.
I have not decided on blade style or anything yet, but it will definately be stock removal, small (3 inch blade or so), and most likely full tang with handle slabs.

Could anyone possibly tell me what kind of steel a lawnmower is?

Any little tricks or tips on grinding uniformly and effectively on a 6 inch wheel?

Any answers to these questions and anything else that would further educate would be greatly helpful.
Thanx.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Look around for some old leaf springs and toss that lawn mower blade. It will narrow your odds of getting some usable steel. Jump right in there and grind away and see what happens. Good luck Fred

 

[Mr.Wrong]

If all you have is a grinder and hacksaw I would go the most trusted route.... And that is to buy a trusted known steel from a supply house. A bar of annealed 1095 1/8” x 1-1/2” x 1' is sold for 5.95 per ft. at Texas knifemakers supply . The steel is soft and easier to work with plus you can get more info on heat treatment.

Hope this helps

PJ

 

[bunghole]

If all you have is a grinder and hacksaw I would go the most trusted route.... And that is to buy a trusted known steel from a supply house. A bar of annealed 1095 1/8” x 1-1/2” x 1' is sold for 5.95 per ft. at Texas knifemakers supply . The steel is soft and easier to work with plus you can get more info on heat treatment.

Hope this helps

PJ

I was just looking at Texas Knifemaker's Supply and I didn't see 1095 steel, but I'm new, so maybe they list it under something else?

Thanks

 

[raylaconico]

Texasknife has 1095 steel under forging steels. O1 is easier and better to use IMHO. Let me know if you have any questions.
-Ray

 

[Will52100]

You realy need a couple more tools, mainly a magnet and a couple of files.

50$ knife shop is a very good way to get started on the cheap.

One way to tell if the lawnmower blade will make a decent knife is to cut a piece, heat to just above non-magnetic, quench in water, put it in the vise and see if it breaks like glass and shows a fine grain. If it does you've got steel that has the potential to make a good knife.

Good luck and be sure to post a pic when done.