Grinding a blade

Fletch Helical

Fletch Helical

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
1,614
I was just reading about a post where a person wanted to make a knife entirely by hand, including draw filing the bevel.

I don't have a belt grinder but I do have a bench grinder and an angle grinder. Is it possible and/or recommended to use either of these assuming you have no access to a belt grinder?

I'm waiting to hear back about getting steel sent to me to do my first knife so as ideas pop into my head about various stages I figure I'll ask.
 
I am planninfg to make my first knife mostly with hand tools, but I am also planning on buying an inexpencive belt sander and drill press. If you do some searches, just use the site: www.bladeforums.com tag in google you will find some useful file jigs that you can make yourself. I have heard of many people using angle grinders to rough in the shape of thier blades though
 
do a youtube search for greenpete. the 4 videos will show you everything you need to know to do it by hand. That is how I got started.
 
I use a combination of draw filing, bench grinding and angle grinding to make my knives. It works just fine but I usually end up doing most of my bevels by draw filing since its difficult to get a symmetrical blade with the angle grinder. That and I find it relaxing. Having used a large metal cutting bandsaw before I still maintain that using an angle grinder is the fastest way to rough cut/profile a blank.
 
The angle grinder can be used for initial stock removal on the bevels using the hard wheel followed by a sandpaper flap wheel. It is not suitable for final finishing however so plan to switch over to draw filing as you get close to the desired bevel however. Finish the blade off and remove the file marks with sandpaper wrapped around a flat piece of wood.

You will need a vise to hold the file during draw filing however.

George
 
Doing a blade pretty much by hand is physically hard work and I cant do it due to neck problems. Thats why I grind on the belt , I even have a old high chair to set on if need be. The angle grinder will speed things up dramatically, it would be best to clamp the grinder to your work bench and hold the blade. That will give you better feel of thats going on and heat issues. It easy to over heat the steel with a angle grinder. kellyw
 
Fletch Helical said:
I was just reading about a post where a person wanted to make a knife entirely by hand, including draw filing the bevel.

I don't have a belt grinder but I do have a bench grinder and an angle grinder. Is it possible and/or recommended to use either of these assuming you have no access to a belt grinder?

I'm waiting to hear back about getting steel sent to me to do my first knife so as ideas pop into my head about various stages I figure I'll ask.
Click to expand...

I think that the hand tool method is not too bad if you use jig like mentioned. This is the kind of setup I used - very simple and you can really get your back into it and hog off steel fairly fast.

I wanted to get a cheap grinder andle grinder etc but I was surprised that the jig worked so well so I decided to keep saving for a KMG.

I have since simplified this jig a little but the concept is still the same. The important thing is not to vary the angle when flipping the knife for the second bevel.

Filingjig-1.jpg


Here's my first. Still not finished unfortunately.:o
FinishedGrinding.jpg
 
Very nice pics Amp, thanks for sharing. Knife is looking good... Get to finishing it, I'd like to see how it turns out :thumbup:
 
Are you using the jig to get the rough profile of the bevel then draw-filing or using the jig the whole way through?
 
I have a policy of not making responses to people who don't fill out their profile.
Filling out your profile may get a response from a smith in your area who will help you with the steel and equipment. I highly encourage you to complete your profile.
Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
I have a policy of not making responses to people who don't fill out their profile.
Filling out your profile may get a response from a smith in your area who will help you with the steel and equipment. I highly encourage you to complete your profile.
Stacy
Click to expand...

I agree, I like to know what part of the country everyone is from.
 
bladsmth said:
I have a policy of not making responses to people who don't fill out their profile.
Filling out your profile may get a response from a smith in your area who will help you with the steel and equipment. I highly encourage you to complete your profile.
Stacy
Click to expand...


We'll see if that works I guess.
 
Thanks for adding the info. It really helps.
I see that you are in NJ, where Aldo Bruno is. He sells 1084 steel, which is a good steel to start on.
There sre some other makers in the PA,NJ,NY area that may be willing to help,too.

As to making the knife by hand, that is an excellent way to start. First, you need to decide on knife shape and size. The larger it is the longer it will take, but the work is done the same.

Tools:
A hacksaw with good blades to saw the steel to size.
Files, prefferably several. Mill bastard, second cut, finishing.
Sandpaper - Wet-or-dry in sheets from 100 grit to 800 grit. Finer if you want a finer finish, but for your first one, 800 is plenty fine. You want about five ( or more) sheets of each to start.
Hard wooden block to back the sandpaper with.
Firm board to clamp the blade to, and another clamp ,to clamp the board to a table (an outside picnic table is a good place). You can screw the board in place if the setup in in the garage.
Lots of elbow grease.

That is pretty much it................
...............Now, here is the deal. Draw up a sketch of the knife you are thinking about. Post it here and let the good folks on the BF give their ideas for changes ( if needed). Once you have the size and shape set, I will send you the steel, sandpaper, some files, and a wooden block. I will send you a set of instructions to help you get started, and the guys here can post their favorite links for hand filing/sanding a blade. When the blade is sanded to 400 grit and ready for HT, send it to me and I will do the HT and send it back with some nice handle material and Corby rivets.

Sound good?
Stacy

BTW, I was born in NJ, and my parents ,grandparents, and relatives were all champion archers in the tri-state region. ( back in the 30's and 40's). That was back when bows looked like bows. Mom met Dad at the regional championship. She outshot all the men, but was only given the womens trophy, because there were no mix of male/female shooting then.

Stacy
 
Yet another case of Mr. Apelt being AWESOME. Your contributions, both in terms of materials to newbies and advice to everybody (and the occasional tongue-lashing to those who deserve it) are a significant contributer to my pride in being a "knife person" and my hope to one day be a knifemaker.

I know I have nothing to do with this thread, but I just thought it should be said. Oh, and Fletch? TAKE THE DEAL! :p
 
bladsmth said:
That is pretty much it................
...............Now, here is the deal. Draw up a sketch of the knife you are thinking about. Post it here and let the good folks on the BF give their ideas for changes ( if needed). Once you have the size and shape set, I will send you the steel, sandpaper, some files, and a wooden block. I will send you a set of instructions to help you get started, and the guys here can post their favorite links for hand filing/sanding a blade. When the blade is sanded to 400 grit and ready for HT, send it to me and I will do the HT and send it back with some nice handle material and Corby rivets.

Sound good?
Stacy
Click to expand...


Really!?

I guess it's something I can't pass up now can I? I've been in the process of trying to figure out everything I needed and get going from there but your idea seems a helluva lot better! I've been focusing on more of what I think I may need to get than getting busy on a design.

I kind of have an idea in mind just need to really need to get busy and nail it down. I'll say it now and likely many times going forward... Thank you for taking the time and offering basically everything to get started.

Although my condolences about being a NJ native, at least you had the smarts to get out ;). It is becoming increasingly harder to even find places to do things like shoot a bow and hunt in many parts of it. I also own a few stick bows myself and have fun plunking with them from time to time. They (bows in general) have come a long way though. Like comparing the muskets of the Revolutionary war to what firearms are available to the military now.

Guess I gotta start racking my brain on how I want this baby to look.
 
bladsmth said:
Thanks for adding the info. It really helps.
I see that you are in NJ, where Aldo Bruno is. He sells 1084 steel, which is a good steel to start on.
There sre some other makers in the PA,NJ,NY area that may be willing to help,too.

As to making the knife by hand, that is an excellent way to start. First, you need to decide on knife shape and size. The larger it is the longer it will take, but the work is done the same.

Tools:
A hacksaw with good blades to saw the steel to size.
Files, prefferably several. Mill bastard, second cut, finishing.
Sandpaper - Wet-or-dry in sheets from 100 grit to 800 grit. Finer if you want a finer finish, but for your first one, 800 is plenty fine. You want about five ( or more) sheets of each to start.
Hard wooden block to back the sandpaper with.
Firm board to clamp the blade to, and another clamp ,to clamp the board to a table (an outside picnic table is a good place). You can screw the board in place if the setup in in the garage.
Lots of elbow grease.

That is pretty much it................
...............Now, here is the deal. Draw up a sketch of the knife you are thinking about. Post it here and let the good folks on the BF give their ideas for changes ( if needed). Once you have the size and shape set, I will send you the steel, sandpaper, some files, and a wooden block. I will send you a set of instructions to help you get started, and the guys here can post their favorite links for hand filing/sanding a blade. When the blade is sanded to 400 grit and ready for HT, send it to me and I will do the HT and send it back with some nice handle material and Corby rivets.

Sound good?
Stacy

BTW, I was born in NJ, and my parents ,grandparents, and relatives were all champion archers in the tri-state region. ( back in the 30's and 40's). That was back when bows looked like bows. Mom met Dad at the regional championship. She outshot all the men, but was only given the womens trophy, because there were no mix of male/female shooting then.

Stacy
Click to expand...


WOW!! That is a very cool thing to do for a new maker. I have no idea who you are, but you are the man.:thumbup:
I will now fill out my profile.:cool:
Matt
 
bladsmth said:
I have a policy of not making responses to people who don't fill out their profile.
Filling out your profile may get a response from a smith in your area who will help you with the steel and equipment. I highly encourage you to complete your profile.
Stacy
Click to expand...

that is so true, if you where in my area you would be more then welcome to come over to my shop and play around.
 
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