How do you cut your knife blanks?

65steve65

65steve65

Joined
Dec 9, 2012
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Hey guys! Started on my first batch of knives, and the one thing I didn't think about too much took the longest. I cut out 3 knives with an air driven cut-off wheel, and used an angle grinder to form the final shape. Very time consuming, and made it a little more difficult to duplicate the blanks. Just wondering what you guys use? I would just cut them with the plasma cutter at work, but I worry about the heat, and I want to do as much by hand as possible. Thanks!
 
I use a milwaukee portaband. I just clamp the handle in my bench vice and go to town. You just have to make relief cuts on corners and bends. I think it only takes a few minutes per blade on smaller blades. Works great in my opinion.
 
I started out the same way. However I started getting them water jetted. I am not anywhere near a full time maker...not even close. But the times I was able to go out in the garage were valuable to me. In the beginning I would spend hours rough cutting blanks with a cut off wheel, then time rarely allowed for grinding. Between time, belts, and overall efficiency, water jet is the way to go.
 
Portaband in Swag table .. As someone pretty new to making knives I don't have a signature blade. If that changes I will have them water jet cut
 
Portable bandsaw now. When I started I drilled holes around the profile, cut between the holes with a cold chisel, then cleaned up the profile with files.
 
Stick it in the forge, heat it up, beat it into shape. What is this "profile cutting" you speak about? :D

Jet Metal bandsaw for me...
 
HomeBru said:
Stick it in the forge, heat it up, beat it into shape. What is this "profile cutting" you speak about? :D

Jet Metal bandsaw for me...
Click to expand...

eventually I actually really want to do it this way, just gotta wait til I get another place :)

I do have a Portaband I am going to try, seems like the way to go. I have also seen some guys put it to the 2x72 and grind it to shape, and soon I will start working on build ing mine, this seem like a good way to go?
 
I have a Harbor Freight vertical/horizontal bandsaw set up vertically with a small work table attachment. It isn't as fast as I would like but it does get the job done.
 
If all you have is an angle grinder and a little air grinder, get some .045 slitting disk for the angle grinder. Cut only straight lines, don't force it let it do the work. Piece must be well secured and you need gloves, safety glasses AND a face shield. With practice you can cut thin stock pretty fast with them. If you have a plasma at work you must have some experience with grinders, but, there is a safety thread in the stickies.

A mounted band saw of some sort is better mostly because you will get a lot more cutting done for you $ than thin disks, with a lot lest grit and crap laying around. If you have a design that you have perfected and tested and really want to make a bunch of having the profiles cut with a water jet is the way to go.

If you have access to a plasma cutter use it. Just cut the tang area close and any cuts on the blade are leave a good 1/8" or so from the cut to your final profile. Then grind that 1/8" off with a grinder.

One way to get several knives the same profile with flat stock is rough cut them then stack and clamp one end in a vise and finish grinding the profile with an angle grinder then reverse and do the rest.
 
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