- Joined
- Nov 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,072
This is my very first ever made from scratch knife!
I got a piece of 1/8" 1095 from G L Drew last fall along with a few "mistake" blanks that he had cut out after I had expressed interest in trying knife making. I've done a lot of woodworking and after reading "The $50 Knife Shop" figured I could give it a shot. Since I've been wanting a chef's knife for a long time, I thought I'd start there. (Didn't consider how tough a big blade would be!)
I rough-cut the blank out with a hand hacksaw and got it to final outline on my 10" grinder. I started grinding out the flats on my little 1x20 cheapie belt sander but it couldn't take the work. Switched to my 2x10 belt sander in a vise, but that got too hot, so I finally resorted to the 4" angle grinder and lots of water.
I brought it down to GL's shop and did some touchup on his belt grinders and he did the heat-treat for me.
The handle is a piece of rosewood (I think) That I've had knocking around my shop for a few years. Pins are 1/4" brass.
After slicing a lime with it and leaving it sit for 30 minutes and seeing the tarnish, I decided to just do it all in a mustard finish.
I'm not completely happy with the blade profile and there's a little bit of a "recurve" in the flat so I'll probably do some re-profiling and tweaking, but hey, IT's MY FIRST KNIFE!!! I've got the bug, time to start saving for a "real" belt grinder!
I got a piece of 1/8" 1095 from G L Drew last fall along with a few "mistake" blanks that he had cut out after I had expressed interest in trying knife making. I've done a lot of woodworking and after reading "The $50 Knife Shop" figured I could give it a shot. Since I've been wanting a chef's knife for a long time, I thought I'd start there. (Didn't consider how tough a big blade would be!)
I rough-cut the blank out with a hand hacksaw and got it to final outline on my 10" grinder. I started grinding out the flats on my little 1x20 cheapie belt sander but it couldn't take the work. Switched to my 2x10 belt sander in a vise, but that got too hot, so I finally resorted to the 4" angle grinder and lots of water.
I brought it down to GL's shop and did some touchup on his belt grinders and he did the heat-treat for me.
The handle is a piece of rosewood (I think) That I've had knocking around my shop for a few years. Pins are 1/4" brass.
After slicing a lime with it and leaving it sit for 30 minutes and seeing the tarnish, I decided to just do it all in a mustard finish.
I'm not completely happy with the blade profile and there's a little bit of a "recurve" in the flat so I'll probably do some re-profiling and tweaking, but hey, IT's MY FIRST KNIFE!!! I've got the bug, time to start saving for a "real" belt grinder!
