How difficult is it to make a fixed blade? Here at college I have access to a machine shop through one of the clubs I'm in. After I pass the safety course, I can go in and use the shop for anything whenever I want. So I'm considering doing a lot of research and then trying to make a fixed blade out of some crappy steel and then failing horribly at it. I don't intend for it to be a particularly good knife. I just want to use it as a personal project to gain some experience in the machine shop. So any advice other than "don't do it, you idiot!"?
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I know this is going to sound like an incredibly stupid question, but...
- Thread starter tambrico
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do it, you idiot!
It is relatively easy to make a fixed blade knife using the stock removal method, just cut some suitable steel (1080, 5160 etc or if you have the equipment M4, A2 etc.) to profile, drill the holes for the handle, cut in the bevels with a file, grinder or maybe a milling machine or surface grinder, sand the blade then heat treat and temper. Add a simple handle with pins and glue.
Good luck!
It is relatively easy to make a fixed blade knife using the stock removal method, just cut some suitable steel (1080, 5160 etc or if you have the equipment M4, A2 etc.) to profile, drill the holes for the handle, cut in the bevels with a file, grinder or maybe a milling machine or surface grinder, sand the blade then heat treat and temper. Add a simple handle with pins and glue.
Good luck!
are you allowed to make knives? if so you must make one. with all those tools at your disposal, it should be really easy and super fun.
I started out with a hidden tang, a drill, a dremel and some files.
If you have a milling tool mill out a V ish shape or a V in the top Inch, and then drill out a rectangle another inch about two or three inches down, cut out a blade to fit (actually Might wanna do this first) and glue it in (epoxy, gorilla glue maybe, or liquid nails but preferably epoxy) its that simple.
one can make a terrible knife easily, a well crafted knife takes years. but take heart if you cut a decent shape from decent steel (1095, or 1080 must have at least .5% carbon) steel, and get it professionally heat treated, (or if you have a heat treat oven, or a forge do it yourself, but with help from somebody who can handle the fire/kiln) the blade should for the most part be very high quality, and cut almost as well as a good custom. it may not look so good but it may work very well for you for years. the most important part is geting decent steel and heat treating well. ht it will bring the hardness from about 20-30 Hrc to 50-60 Hrc
Everyone here envys your opportunity dont waste it!
I started out with a hidden tang, a drill, a dremel and some files.
If you have a milling tool mill out a V ish shape or a V in the top Inch, and then drill out a rectangle another inch about two or three inches down, cut out a blade to fit (actually Might wanna do this first) and glue it in (epoxy, gorilla glue maybe, or liquid nails but preferably epoxy) its that simple.
one can make a terrible knife easily, a well crafted knife takes years. but take heart if you cut a decent shape from decent steel (1095, or 1080 must have at least .5% carbon) steel, and get it professionally heat treated, (or if you have a heat treat oven, or a forge do it yourself, but with help from somebody who can handle the fire/kiln) the blade should for the most part be very high quality, and cut almost as well as a good custom. it may not look so good but it may work very well for you for years.
the most important part is geting decent steel and heat treating well. ht it will bring the hardness from about 20-30 Hrc to 50-60 Hrc Everyone here envys your opportunity dont waste it!
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Seeing as it's illegal to have weapons at school, i'd ask the instructor or whatever before starting a project like that as there's possible issues with getting into crap with the college is not okay with that.
Otherwise it's quite easy !
Otherwise it's quite easy !
+1:thumbup:
most colleges are run and tought by ex-hippies, and if you have a particularly crazy one in the shop, which I doubt, he may flip out. depending on how far along you are you could get in serious trouble see knife laws forum. however you could probably be able to quickly and safely profile a knife blade with a band saw, and the handle should not be a problem. so even if its not allowed there is still a lot you can do just don't assemble it on campus take it home. however if its o.k go for it
try to scope it out without asking directly if a 6" knife is allowed, then find somebody reasonable, preferably someone who knows you are not a serial killer and ask him. or at least that's what I would do, but its your school, your state (make a knife under the legal length for your state) your situation, your call. just be cautious. ( don't go up to the director of diversity or a major left wing socialist type and ask can I make a 8' bowie knife in the college shop, and keep it in my dorm?)
most colleges are run and tought by ex-hippies, and if you have a particularly crazy one in the shop, which I doubt, he may flip out. depending on how far along you are you could get in serious trouble see knife laws forum. however you could probably be able to quickly and safely profile a knife blade with a band saw, and the handle should not be a problem. so even if its not allowed there is still a lot you can do just don't assemble it on campus take it home. however if its o.k go for it
try to scope it out without asking directly if a 6" knife is allowed, then find somebody reasonable, preferably someone who knows you are not a serial killer and ask him. or at least that's what I would do, but its your school, your state (make a knife under the legal length for your state) your situation, your call. just be cautious. ( don't go up to the director of diversity or a major left wing socialist type and ask can I make a 8' bowie knife in the college shop, and keep it in my dorm?
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- Dec 3, 2005
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I've never used a school shop, but generally a machine shop will have precious little in the way of machines to help you build knives. Unless of course you are exceptionally good at cnc programming. Sure they got grinders, and maybe a belt grinder/sander. But few of them lend themselves well to knifemaking. You can hack out a Knife on them, but alot will depend on the standard you set for the knife you want.
I would think a better project that will use more machines and teach you more ,would be to use the shop to build your own grinder.
I would think a better project that will use more machines and teach you more ,would be to use the shop to build your own grinder.
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Its easy. If i can do it any one can.
oh yeah that brings us to an important issue is it a real shop, or what. what tools do you have. I would say you need minimum
Belt grinder (preferably 2x72)-most important (and belts diff grit)
Drill press-very nice
band saw (or other sufficient cutting tool)
dremel or other multy purpose power tool
files
anything else necessary?
Belt grinder (preferably 2x72)-most important (and belts diff grit)
Drill press-very nice
band saw (or other sufficient cutting tool)
dremel or other multy purpose power tool
files
anything else necessary?
The actual making isnt hard. What I find a challenge is in selecting the right material, choosing the right edge geometry, choosing the right dimensions and balance point, choosing the right heat treatment and on and on. Its far more difficult than most would believe to make a truly high performance knife.
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Wow, if I had access to a college machine shop, I'd do more than take a safety course and try to make a knife. I'd take actual machining classes and learn as much as I could!!!
If you let people know where you are located, you might find that there is a knife maker close to you who could walk you through the process and get you past the tough parts.
Jim Arbuckle
ABS JS Yorktown VA.
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http://smartflix.com/store/video/2025/Making-A-SubHilt-Fighter
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=59_39_50&products_id=708
http://smartflix.com/store/video/66/Home-Workshop-Knifemaking
http://www.paladin-press.com/product/85/51
If you could watch these videos, they will take you through a good overview of the major steps and give you a good idea of what it takes.
There is another thread around with some good books too, but be damned if I can find it.
http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=59_39_50&products_id=708
http://smartflix.com/store/video/66/Home-Workshop-Knifemaking
http://www.paladin-press.com/product/85/51
If you could watch these videos, they will take you through a good overview of the major steps and give you a good idea of what it takes.
There is another thread around with some good books too, but be damned if I can find it.
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- Jan 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,531
The statement that knives (actually Leu said "weapons") are illegal at schools is kind of misleading. Here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, (at my daughters high school) it is perfectly legal (and clearly spelled out in the school handbook) to carry a knife .................. as long as the blade length does not exceed 2 inches. She has been "carrying" a small knife I made for her
since she's been 13 yrs old ...................... ~ 4 yrs now :thumbup:She is well know as the class pencil sharpener, string cutter, etc.. There have even been times when her teachers have asked to borrow her knife for a minute or two
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- Jun 23, 2006
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- 2,418
Don't tell the folks at MCC that it's illegal, they'll stop letting us have our knifemaking classes and meetings there
Wow, thanks for all the responses guys. Yes, we are allowed to have knives up here as long as their only intended purpose is food preparation. From what I hear most of the guys who work in the shop are pretty cool and helpful and they like when people want to use it for things. When I register for the safety course I'm going to find out if there are any other machining courses I can register for. Thanks guys!