Necessary tools for first knife?

B

Bordo

Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
82
What tools do you absolutely need to have to make a knife?

So far I have:
Flat Bastard
Half Round
100, 220, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 Wet or Dry (In the mail)
1/8 3/16 Drill Bit
1/8 Brass Pins
1/8x1 1/2x7 7/8 1084 HC Steel

Is there anything else that I really need to get started? I read the How to that was posted and it mentioned polishing paper and second and smooth files. Do you have to have those or do they just make life easier?

Also should I attempt to jimp on my first knife? And if I should is a checkering file the only way?

Thanks for the help
 
Some files, hacksaw, drill/drill press,bits,epoxy. I think you went overboard on the sandpaper to start out but it wont go bad. A checkering file does do the best job for jimping. However, Jimping the spine is probally the last thing you need to do just starting out. If you feel you need to do some jimping, a small round chainsaw files will work. Various small round files are nice to have on hand anyways. You can go to your local Lawn and Garden store and get a few for about $2 each. If you want to stay simple and cheap you can use oak for your handle. Do you want a thong hole? Gonna need tubing if so?
 
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Forget the thong hole for now. It isn't really necessary, and will just be one more thing to bother with.

The polishing papers are made by 3M, and come in a pack of 400 to 8000 grit. They can be purchased individually,too. Some of the knife suppliers sell them, as well as jewelry suppliers, like Rio Grande. They are color coded so you can tell them apart. They are really nice to have, but just the Wet-or-Dry paper to 2500 will work fine.

Oak isn't my favorite handle material for a lot of reasons. If you had filled out your profile, I would offer to send you some good stabilized handle material and a pack of 3M papers........ But I don't know where you are?

I am sure you have read this, but the process of making a first knife is covered in it. The parts of this that don't apply to your build are good info for future projects:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/694673-How-to-instructions-for-making-a-knife

Since you are using brass rivets, you won't need to worry about the Corby bolts.

Advise:
Go slow and plan each step before you do it. Don't try and make this knife in one day.
Forget fancy details like file work and jimping on this knife.
Make the best knife you can.....but don't obsess on every scratch and error.
Enjoy the process, don't try and rush, don't do too much at a time.
Take breaks , and when you come back, look over what you did before the break.
Always think about the future steps. It is fruitless to sand the ricaso to 400 grit when you haven't filed the tang flat yet, etc.
Think and work safe. Haste causes the most accidents, and being tired causes the second most.
 
Thank you for your help and for your original "How to" write up. Seeing some actual instruction is what made me eager to actually try and make my own knife.
If the offer still stands I would truly appreciate some 3m paper... It's actually been kinda hard to get any kind of wet or dry paper here... I guess living in new york has some downside in the lack of tools area lol...
 
Almost every auto repair shop and auto parts place carries it. Most woodworking suppliers do,too.
Send me a PM or email and we can set up getting you some supplies.

Thanks for filling out your profile.
 
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