Making a knife without a grinder?

[Leon Husock]

So thanks to the pandemic I'm not going to be at home for possibly the next two months, and I find myself with access to a forge but not a grinder. Is it possible (assuming I have the requisite skill level) to forge a knife so close to finished that I could do all the finish work on the edge with files in a reasonable amount of time and effort? Obviously this would be a brut-de-forge style knife.

Note: I do have access to an angle grinder and a little harbor freight 1x30, but the idea of hand-sanding a knife with the level of coarse grind an angle grinder would leave, or trying to grind a large knife using my 1x30, both give me a headache.

 

[FredyCro]

I saw a guy on yt doing all his grinds with a angle grinder mounted in a jig.. Similar principle to a file jig.
I think you could clean up the forging with an angle grinder and then use 1x30. Scribe your lines and don't overshoot. Use the coarsest grits you can get and quality belts to rough in the grinds. Finish the rest by hand. If you have spare time you will learn a ton by the time you have your first knife done.

 

[Natlek]

So thanks to the pandemic I'm not going to be at home for possibly the next two months, and I find myself with access to a forge but not a grinder. Is it possible (assuming I have the requisite skill level) to forge a knife so close to finished that I could do all the finish work on the edge with files in a reasonable amount of time and effort? Obviously this would be a brut-de-forge style knife.

Note: I do have access to an angle grinder and a little harbor freight 1x30, but the idea of hand-sanding a knife with the level of coarse grind an angle grinder would leave, or trying to grind a large knife using my 1x30, both give me a headache.

If you know how .............in one hour with good file you will grind full flat bevels in 5mm thick steel

 

[Nick Dunham]

Consider this:

Here is a good 2-3 hrs of arm exercise for you. Go to truegrit.com, get a couple of 80 & 120 grit 2x72 belts Merit Value Ceramic brand. Cut each belt into 6x 12" long then use box cutter to split each section (length wise) into 2x 1x12". Clamp/tie a piece to a piece of hardwood/file. Start with 80 grit, you can sand away hardened 1095/O1/D2/S30V/etc.. at whatever hardness thrown at you.

I probably can put a near zero ffg on 1/8" O1 63+rc 4" blade in about 1 hr via this way and probably wear out less than a whole 80 grit belt. Easier if you clamp the blade down onto a work surface, lean down with ceramic/belt file, pour water to rinse and keep blade cool. Put on new belt section as soon as you feel the current one no longer cut aggressively - will save time and avoid unwanted burnish+heat.

btw - when edge about 0.02-0.03" thick, walk up to higher grit - keep erase coarse grit scratches until final pre-sharpening thickness. Don't zero (aka apexed the edge with very coarse grit - impacts will crack edge, usually show up later when sharpening - often observed as chip out during sharpening).

 

[LCoop]

Where there is a will there is a way. I believe I saw on here a dude who was a machinist by trade. He obviously had the ability to use tools but made knives strictly with hand tools. IMPRESSIVE.

Its not the tools that make a good knife maker. I remember like yesterday when my new variable speed grinder came. I thought it would instantly make me a expert knife maker! Imagine my surprise!

 

[Daniel W]

Until very recently (today) all my knives were made with a 1x30 and files a file jig is easy to make and will work great. Don’t feel like you can’t make one without a belt grinder a angle grinder will get you a profile then move to files and you’ll have a blade in no time. Take your time

 

[milkbaby]

Below is a knife with 9.5" blade that I made with hacksaw, 1x30, drill press, two brick forge, and sandpaper. Either you want it bad enough or you don't.

 

[mooniesdl3]

I used a 1x30 to make a couple of knives before getting a 2x72, it is certainly doable. I also used a file jig I made from instructions found online. Either method will work for you and work well, it just takes longer.

 

[Leon Husock]

These are all super helpful, thanks guys! I'm excited to try it. God knows I've got the time to kill.

 

[john april]

check out some wolfgang loerchner knives. he does not use any power tools. high end craftsmanship.

 

[ChristoDart]

This is where I started. Hope it helps.

 

[Mark van Elteren]

I used a bench grinder (6" wheel and wet grinding wheel, probably around 8"), then sandpaper for my first few knives. I tried a hacksaw and files too, and in terms of work required it is pretty close. With the stuff you have, you should be just fine

Mark

 

[DustinY]

Where there is a will there is a way. I believe I saw on here a dude who was a machinist by trade. He obviously had the ability to use tools but made knives strictly with hand tools. IMPRESSIVE.

Its not the tools that make a good knife maker. I remember like yesterday when my new variable speed grinder came. I thought it would instantly make me a expert knife maker! Imagine my surprise!

This is literally me when every tool I purchase has a learning curve - like “I’m not instantly a professional? Wow, offended LOL.” What an idiot I am.