My First Knife Plans

S

SGACutlery

Joined
Jun 4, 2013
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This is gonna be my first knife, I am going for a futuristic design.
I was planning to use 5160 springsteel for the blade and maybe acid etch it to look like damascus


For the scales I was planning african blackwood, or maybe carbon fiber.

Retainer pins will be blue anodized titanium

What would be a good thickness for the blade steel, and I am planning to cut this by hand with a jeweler's saw and then use files to finish it up.
Heat Treating will be done on a grill with a blower

Let me know if u have suggestions/tips for my first knife!!!


PICTURE FOR BLANK:
IMG_20130603_212327.jpg
 
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There are so many things that will not work well in that plan. I think you would be far better to start simple.

BTW, the only 5056 I am familiar with is aluminum?
 
the 5056 was a typo, what are things that could go wrong? im not sure im gonna do the details/grooves on the blade though. This is gonna be more of a light use/display blade
 
First, let me back up and say, "Welcome to Shop Talk". I always suggest that new members fill out the info in their profile, and read the stickies. There is a ton of good info there, including a tutorial on building a first knife, and other threads on HT.

The plan is very ambitious ,especially for a beginner with no equipment. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but this is going to be a complex project with the methods and materials listed. Some of the things that jump out are:
Cut out with a jeweler's saw ....that is not going to work well at all......( I am a jeweler, trust me on this one.).
Inlaying that pattern in blackwood ( please don't even think about doing it in CF )...that is not a starter skill.
Anodizing titanium pins after installation????
Acid etch to look like damascus????
HT with a grill and a blower !!!!!!

The sketch isn't clear about what that is projecting down the blade spine. What was your plan there?
I still don''t understand your 5056 steel. You say it is a type...type of what? ASTM 5056 is a magnesium aluminum type. Can you give a link to this steel or a source? There is 5160 spring steel, which is a common knife steel.
 
Granted I could be wrong, but I'm not so sure about using a blower/grill heat-treat kiln. I have tried multiple times with a blower and grill filled with charcoal, and once with a propane grill, with blade temperatures peaking at probably around 700 - 800 degrees Fahrenheit during all attempts; nor even remotely close to where it needed to be. If you don't have the budget for a fancy electric kiln, there should be articles here for home made kilns/forges that aren't all that expensive and will certainly get the job done. As I said though, I could be wrong and just had a really crappy blower or something.
 
The anodized pins are being bought from a supplier, also I have know how to and have access to a cnc to make the handle patterns and will probably end up going with the wood. What would you recommend to cut the blank, I could obtain a angle grinder or a dremel with a metel cutting attachment.
 
The pointed hump on the spine seems like it would cause a blister.

Try making it out of wood first and see how it feels.
 
I wonder why newbies always start off with angled knives instead of curvy knives...
 
Video games are a big source of inspiration. Pixelated characters don't get blisters.:)
 
My reasoning was that angles would be easier to cut, then having to round edges and it would look "stealthy"
 
I am confused about the handle- is that multiple handle materials proposed? Besides the asthetic and ergo issues, it's an incredibly ambitious design to be a first knife. Other comments being withheld out of respect and to avoid sounding like a "jerk" (or insert vulgarities) :rolleyes:
 
What, angles like this?
fdb4fa0e6a59bb1b2d174f68d571c0e9.jpg

(BTW this is a rough 320 grit quick wipe down after HT... not even near what I would consider finished. However, flip it over, turn it around, everything is spot on.... Feel free to see my WIP thread to read yourself in... :)And in the background is one of two sacrificed blades for destructive testing. I even tested the blade in a -25f cold environment as it will live in Colorado once the new owner gets it. Just didn't want anyone to think that was a screw up that got hucked in the wood chipper...)

Yeah, no offense, but trust me, don't even think about it until you have a few knives under your belt. And if you think you are gonna cut it on a mill, what about the cleanup of the lines? That's what separates the men from the boys... Oh, and there is about 500+ hours of r&d in that blade you see above. Notice it is angular in the blade, and curved in the handle... Straight handles just don't work. Look at your hands, see any straight lines and fixed angles in there? It will be hot spot city. And blades don't need to be "stealthy." They are by nature small and easily concealable and frequently do not have much of a radar cross-section... ;)

Sorry, but stick to the stickies, keep it simple, don't bite off more than you can chew. I am assuming "SGACutlery" is supposed to be your business? Please do me a favor and don't fall into that trap. You will surely be disappointed if you are approaching this as a business first and a passion second. I only formed an LLC because I was reaching the point where there were tax implications. By the time you get there, you won't have to ask for much design help, and will know what tools to use for what and what you can bite off and chew. We want to promote success here, and develop good fundamental skills. We want you to enjoy this hobby, and not join the countless who have been disappointed and given up before they had a chance to succeed. And, to some degree, that also means paying your dues...
 
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Oh, and anodized titanium won't be once it is worked. Anodizing is simply an oxide reaction on the surface of the material with a colorant added. As soon as you sand it, it will be bare. Anodizing while in place is impossible... Some people aren't aware that it is only microns deep.
 
SGACutlery said:
, also I have know how to and have access to a cnc to make the handle patterns and will probably end up going with the wood. What would you recommend to cut the blank, I could obtain a angle grinder or a dremel with a metel cutting attachment.
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Couldnt you cut the blank with the cnc. And knifmaker John Grimsmo even grinds the bevels with a cnc.
 
Listen to these guy's. They know what they're talking about. I rarely post here, but I read and study everything.
I've learned things here that you will never learn on your own. Don't forget that what sounds like criticism is usually a lesson.
If you're smart you will learn.
Also, it helps to have a thick skin. It can get a little rough around here sometimes.
And finally, read the stickies.
 
fadugleman said:
Couldnt you cut the blank with the cnc. And knifmaker John Grimsmo even grinds the bevels with a cnc.
Click to expand...

I know some people do, and I know a few who were well able to make a knife the old fashioned way before playing with computers... For those guys, they are an exception to my opinion. But for me, not learning how to with simply you hands and motivation isn't what I would call a knifemaker. I guess I feel like the computer is making the knife, not the maker. Even if he designed it...

In the end, all of these things are what they are, my opinion. Take em or leave em. Whatever gets you there and makes you happy is what you should do... But you asked, so we answered... take it for what its worth....
 
fishon217 said:
And remember the internet is comprised of typed content. We can't convey emotion, body language, or any of the things that make the english language function properly. We may be very outspoken, very opinionated, and at times a bit offensive. View it more like the guys around the watercooler or at the local watering hole. We may disagree, but we all share the same passion.
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Thanks guys! I will redesign and post a finished product in a month or two! Until then I guess its more research and planning!

Also this was intended to be a display piece, never intended to be a viable ergonomic and comfortable design.
 
Mah, leave display pieces to the froots (j/k I like wall hangers too, own a few but don't make em) make a man's knife!
 
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