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My first knife making experience, WIP

P

partypat

Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
14
I have always liked knives and after I felt the need for a hobby i could undertake at home in my spare time.
After watching and reading for a while i decided to try my hand at making my own knife.
The plan is to document it here and hopefully learn a lot from the experince and apply it to my future projects.

I looked at a lot of knives and settled on a design I liked and ultimately hoped wouldn't be too troublesome to complete

DSC01756.jpg


Out in my uncles shed i found some flat steel, (no idea what it is) it is a little too thick for what i wanted but for my first build i will take what i can get.

DSC01755.jpg


After cutting out my template i decided the handle was a little too short for my likeing so a quick snip and the handle got a little longer.

DSC01757.jpg


After cleaning up one side of the steel I then transferred the shape, I found pencil to be less than ideal but it did the job for me for now.

DSC01760.jpg


Then came the hard bit. I wasn't sure how i was going to cut out the profile but my uncle has a few tools around so i was able to give a few different ways a go.
Cut a few pieces off with a hacksaw but it must have been a cheap blade because after 3 cuts it had become blunt and a few teeth had gone missing.
I then shaped the top on the bench grinder, the angle grinder and a belt sander. I found the belt sander the best of the 3 to do this.
I then moved to the drill press to cut the bottom profile out and drilled a series of holes along the shape and cut through it with a cut off blade on the angle grinder.

DSC01783.jpg


After about an hour of filing by hand, using the angle grinder and belt sander I ended up with this. It didn't look quite right, the blade looked a little too deep and after laying my template back down on it i see where i have to take some more material off.
That was all i had time for tonight. hopefully I will get a few more hours on it this week.
I still have no idea what i will do for handle material or pins but I'm sure i will find something by the time i come to it.

DSC01785.jpg
 
Looks like you've made a good start. I'm sure you will learn a lot. In fact, making knives should be a continuous learning experience.
 
right on, buddy!:thumbup:
 
First of all, welcome to blade forums.

You selected a nice design for your first knife and are off to a good start.
Looking forward to seeing it progress. Please, just don't take a year in finishing it. ;) :)
 
You came up with a nice looking design, but if I were you I'd stop now and buy some quality steel and then start over.

Steel out of your uncle's shed is surely just structural steel... like 1018 or A36... which is mild steel and cannot be heat-treated. You are no doubt going to spend a ridiculous amount of time on your first knife, but if you do it with this steel it will not be a knife, just a knife-shaped-object.

Not trying to be a dick, just save you some heart-ache :)
 
Nick is almost certainly right about the steel. However, you may still find it worthwhile go go ahead and practice grinding/filing bevels on that blank. I know I learned quite a bit real quick by grinding a knife-shaped-object out of mild steel. (Some folks starting out practice bevels etc. on scrap wood, for that matter.) It doesn't matter to me which way you go, as long as you understand you're extremely unlikely to end up with a properly-hardened blade using that steel. Whether it's a waste of time or not is up to you.

Eventually, pony up for a piece of quality steel. Various kinds are available by the foot from several reliable distributors, including folks right here on the forum.
 
Thanks Nick,

I appreciate the help, I will do as you say and buy a piece of steel as I want this knife to be usable, not just a knife shaped piece of metal.
I think I will continue to shape this one a little more to learn how to do a few more things before i commmit to a piece of "good" steel.


NickWheeler said:
You came up with a nice looking design, but if I were you I'd stop now and buy some quality steel and then start over.

Steel out of your uncle's shed is surely just structural steel... like 1018 or A36... which is mild steel and cannot be heat-treated. You are no doubt going to spend a ridiculous amount of time on your first knife, but if you do it with this steel it will not be a knife, just a knife-shaped-object.

Not trying to be a dick, just save you some heart-ache :)
Click to expand...
 
partypat said:
Thanks Nick,

I appreciate the help, I will do as you say and buy a piece of steel as I want this knife to be usable, not just a knife shaped piece of metal.
I think I will continue to shape this one a little more to learn how to do a few more things before i commmit to a piece of "good" steel.
Click to expand...

Dont get rid of what you worked on though... it will make a great template if you wanted to make another one like it, and will be a good memory of your first knifemaking experience.
 
I agree with Psycho78. :thumbup:Save the pattern.

Does that make me a psycho too?:eek: :DLin
 
I started practicing on old leaf springs and files in my grandfathers garage. I figured HI Kami's use em to make Khukri's so I might as well give em a shot making knives. I had alot of fun buying books and building my 50 dollar forge and what not. I have since moved to barstock and stock removal methods when I have the time.

You learn ALOT about just how much effort/skill it takes to make a knife by hand. I really appreciate knives more having made them. Good luck on continuing to learn and read up on safety and equipment. I didnt think to use a respirator mask when I first started......something to think about when your grinding on steel and handle materials.
 
when I started making knives, and when I want to try out a new grind or bevel I use(d) a non-annealed file for the first try, because it will take more abuse to screw up and will still give you a decent knife when you heat treat it, and a second mock up from a piece of plastic cutting board, because it helps me do the delicate grinds better without slipping and putting a notch somewhere I don't want it (and its cheap and tends to not really gum up my grinder blades). After doing the two mock ups putting the pattern into s30v or 440c is a lot easier.

Keep up the good work. After making your 2nd knife, there's no way to stop.

and btw when you get a nice piece of knife steel, I would suggest using thin angle grinder discs rather that the drill press to cut the general outline because it'll go quite a bit faster and you won't have to stop to keep sharpening your drill bits.

mad props
 
Your knife looks pretty good.

I would love to try making a knife but sadly I have few skills along those lines.

I hear George Tischbourne (spelling?) offers punters like me a chance to make a knife under his supervision in his shop in the Toronto suburbs, for a price of course. I may take him up on his offer to experience that if I get some time. It could be cool. :)

Good job on your work. I'm jealous.
 
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