Help with making my first knife

Ok so, im going with 1084, as it seems good! But Im going to stay at 3/16"thickness as I like a thicker blade.
Im going to purchase my blank this week and hopefully anneal it, and start cold work!
 
If your adamant on 3/16 then I think you should bring the grind up to an ffg it will slice better and be lighter with minimal strength loss
 
D2whiz said:
Ok so, im going with 1084, as it seems good! But Im going to stay at 3/16"thickness as I like a thicker blade.
Im going to purchase my blank this week and hopefully anneal it, and start cold work!
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I don't understand your "blank"?
I thought you were getting a bar of steel and making the knife yourself. If you purchase a piece of steel from any of the knife suppliers, it will already be annealed.
By "cold work", do you mean filing and sanding? ( cold work means something else)

It is your knife, so suit yourself on the thickness, but you have to file all that excess steel away. Take it from a group of folks who have done this quite a few times, 1/8" is a hefty knife in a 3.25" blade. Your knife will cut less, and weigh more in 3/16".
 
bladsmth said:
I don't understand your "blank"?
I thought you were getting a bar of steel and making the knife yourself. If you purchase a piece of steel from any of the knife suppliers, it will already be annealed.
By "cold work", do you mean filing and sanding? ( cold work means something else)

It is your knife, so suit yourself on the thickness, but you have to file all that excess steel away. Take it from a group of folks who have done this quite a few times, 1/8" is a hefty knife in a 3.25" blade. Your knife will cut less, and weigh more in 3/16".
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Yes when I said blank I meant the steel bar, and by cold work I meant just doing all the shaping of the knife. Im just throwing around terms :eek:
 
i am 15 and a boy scout as well its cool to see someone like me who makes knives i make knives and think you could find my youtube videos verry helpful i am matthew washburn (mattoutdoors123 on youtube) i make knife making videos and i also have limited tools, great luck with your knifemaking and hope someone fings my videos helpful!
 
D2Whiz,
I recommend what others have said and go with 1/8" for your first knife. Especially with only a 3.25" blade. 3/16" steel will be a sharpened pry bar and you may get discouraged with the amount of filing it would take to shape a knife of of that thick of steel.

If you are interested in a Stainless steel? Try 440C or CPM-154. If you shape it and send it to me I will cover the cost of Heat treating in my next large batch that I send to Paul Bos at Buck knives.

Consider it a gift for your Eagle badge. CONGRATS!

It also looks like you are near so other makers? I suggest you email them and stop by their shop when you can? Some hands on guidance will make the learning curve much easier.
 
Strigamort said:
Wow, there is some really bad advice here. I'm surprised.

Congrats on your achievement!

(oh, and I'd go with 1/8" too. :p )
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I tend to agree. Usually this forum is very good about encouraging the use of new steel of a known type that is designed for knives.
 
I.N.F.K said:
Do not use any electric grinder when working the grind of your knife, it could warp the blade.

I would reccomend going to your local scrapyard or a elder relatives garage and look for a old Nicholson bastard file. Then all you have to do is anneal it before working on it and use your oven and oil to temper it.
.
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:eek:
 
D2 -
I think you are doing a great job of trying to figure this out before jumping in and getting started.
Once you have your blade shape worked out, and have picked a steel, I would be glad to profile the blade for you and send it to you at no cost to you. You would then do all the work and send it to Laurence for HT.

To the other readers:
Yes, lately we are getting more bad advice from folks who have never made a knife, or are just getting started making them. Some of this advice comes from newer youthful members who have no experience at all.

I will try and state what should be the obvious:
Start with a known steel from a supplier that sells to knifemakers.
Heat treatment is crucial to getting a good knife. Send it out in the beginning.
Hand tools are great when starting. Use power tools carefully, as they take off metal and skin easily.
Try and find a nearby maker who can guide you and offer help and materials.

If you don't know for sure....from personal experience, just let someone who does post answers and advice.
 
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