Make a Knife from a Lawn Mower Blade

T

tbrady

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Oct 19, 2010
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I have a couple of old hardened lawn mower blades that I would like to cut into the shape of a knife or machetee but everything I have used to cut out the shape will not cut the blades. Can someone recommend the best method for cutting the blades? Also, what is the best way to attach wooden handles to a steel blade for the home hobbiest. Thanks.
 
tbrady said:
I have a couple of old hardened lawn mower blades that I would like to cut into the shape of a knife or machetee but everything I have used to cut out the shape will not cut the blades. Can someone recommend the best method for cutting the blades? Also, what is the best way to attach wooden handles to a steel blade for the home hobbiest. Thanks.
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Small angle grinder with thin cutoff wheel is the ticket. These thin wheels are available in 4", 4.5", and 5". They are around 1/16" thick (some as thin as 0.045").

Slow curing two-part epoxy is an easy way to attach wooden handle scales. You want to rough up the tang with the grinder, but do not put any stress risers that will cause a break, so no deep notches, right angle indents, etc. Glue it and clamp for at least 24 hours before declamping and final shaping the handle.
 
I would also suggest throwing a cordwrap around the scales, if you don't have the tools to drill and pin them to the tang.
 
Lawnmower blades are terrible material for knife blades. For $15, you can buy good steel (1095) from wwwjantzsupply.com
It will be annealed, and easy to work. Rudimentary heat treating can be done with a torch and canola oil.
 
also to help out i would use a torch to cut out the main shape and a grinder for the details it will help cut the cost since itll double for the heat treat
 
The steel used is specifically soft, so the blades won't break.
Cutting with a torch has nothing to do with heat treating. It's an ewntirely separate issue.
 
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