My first knife

M

mattpanex

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
23
Hi there,

During the past couple of weeks I have been hanging around the forum reading through all the information on knife making and I must admit that my head is starting to hurt from all the information absorbed.

I have a lot of questions, but I think the best way of going about them would be to make a knife and document my progress in a step by step manner on the forum. I would really appreciate your input during this process.

I have very little of the required tools, but I will buy them as I go along.

The specification:

Design - Refer to drawing - Drop point
Steel - Bohler N690
Total lenght - 260mm
Blade leght - 130mm
Thickness - 4mm at the spine,flat grind to the edge

Knife002.jpg


I don't have a scroll saw or a grinder and I really want this project to be as perfect as possible. A friend of mine works in a profiling shop with a water jet cutter and he said he could do the profile for me. (Is this cheating?;) )

I am planning to buy a bench three wheel belt grinder from a local knifemaker. (check picture) and a bench drill press.

Sander.jpg


Will keep you updated as I go along.

Thanks,
Matt - South Africa
 
Matt,

Start at the begining and get proficient at it, then move on. Learn how to use what tools you do have and their limitations. If you try to attack every single step at once you'll wind up confused and frustrated. Think it through so you don't repeat unneccasary steps.

If you want it perfect, that equals time. There are alot of tutorials and other specific information available here. use it to your benefit. Good luck and show us your stuff. Check out the stickies.
 
Hi there, thanks for the replies, I appreciate the feedback.

I have changed the design slightly due to material limitations, but I am very pleased with the overall look of the design.

KnifeDesign02_0.jpg


As I have mentioned before I am water jet cutting the profile of the knife and I will take delivery of three blanks on Monday if all goes to plan.

I have recently come across an article/ tutorial on how to make Micarta from jean material and since I am building my own knife I decided togo the full distance and experiment with making my own Micarta handle material.

To make the Micarta I used two pieces of Formica table top slabs with six (6) holes drilled through them to serve as my press.

DSC00086.jpg


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I used plain threaded bar to make the bolts that will tighten up the press.

I taped some wax paper to Formica slabs to help with separation once the material and resin has dried.

I used a dark and light jean/ cotton based material alternating between the two shades, I really hope it works out well.

DSC00084.jpg


I will post more pics of the “Micarta” tomorrow.

Cheers, Matt
 
"I don't have a scroll saw or a grinder and I really want this project to be as perfect as possible. A friend of mine works in a profiling shop with a water jet cutter and he said he could do the profile for me. (Is this cheating? )"

Not cheating, LUCKY!! The profiling is the easy part, then you get to the grinding, the fun part, when you've made a template and start grinding, trying to get the perfect grind and it gets smaller and smaller and smaller and...... Then end up with a knife that looks nothing like the drawing.:D Good luck
 
With my very limited micarta making experince I'd suggest one thing.
You are going to get alot of ooze. You might want to built up the sides where
you taped the waxpaper down to direct it when you want it to drip.Multiple layers of tape,thin wood stips you get the picture. You can elevate one end as well. You can have it drip into anything disposable. This will avoid alot of chipping/clean-up later
 
Hi there, thanks for the advise, a picture of the Micarta as it came out of the press, reeleased with no problems and looks very solid, but a strong chemical smell to it.

I left it outside and hopefully the smell will tone down a bit.

HID.jpg
 
Sweet, Cant wait to see what that micarta looks like when you get into it. Ariel's twist micarta is really nice too. What is the scale on the most recent knife blank drawing you posted?
 
Hi there, if you want to I can send youa scale drawing of the knife in pdf format, just let me know.

Do you have a link to the twist Micarta?

Thanks,

Matt
 
If all goes well I will be getting my water jet cut knives today and in preparation of the big filing exercise I made myself a knife clamp yesterday.

As always comments and usggestions are welcome :D

DSC00727.jpg


DSC00725.jpg


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It is quite versatile and I can use it for big and smaller sized knives. At the moment the clamps are made of mild steel but I hope to replace them will stainless steel pieces as soon as I get to my local metal dealer.

It is made from aluminium with stainless steel bolts to hold it all together.
 
Had a go at the Jeans Micarta this evening and it looks promising, I am getting the blades on Monday and I cannot wait to start work on my knife

DSC00683.jpg
 
Neato. Show us more of your shop. Looks like its clean as hell in there.
 
man. And I'm working in a dirt floored shop with castoff vises, a $10 grinder, and a 4x36.

You've got the materials, obviously. Just take your time on the blades. I'm finding (after 4 completed knives) that all the attention in the shaping pays off.

Can't tell you much about heat treating, I'm batting .5 so far.....sigh.

Good design, great clamp. nice micarta! I'm about to try making some using railroad tie plates as the press (with clamps around the sides), but I have to wait for my glass fronted sanding boards to dry.....
 
Holy smokes Matt, I felt like you were telling my story there about reading everything possible and then starting out. I'm about to start my first knife also. Good luck with your's!
 
Hi there,

The work on the knife has progressed nicely and it has been heat treated to 59HRC and hand finished to 1200 grit.

DSC00734.jpg


This week I will do the bolsters and the handles and the final touches.
 
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