Need LOTS of advice and info - I want to make a knife

jefroman

jefroman

Gold Member
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
774
Hello everybody. I've had an urge lately to make my own knife, and I've finally taken action; by doing some research and by posting this thread!:)
I'd first like to say that I only plan on making one or two knives, so I don't want to buy a belt grinder, drill press, or any thing else that costs a lot of money. I need help with just about everything, so please bear with me.
I'm going to be making a fixed blade, with a blade length of around 4 inches, and a handle length of about 4.75 inches. I want it to be made out of either 5/32 or 3/16 inch stock.
I want a carbon steel, so I've been considering 01, 1095, etc. I pretty much want a steel that's inexpensive and fairly easy to quench/temper. It also has to be readily available in either 5/32 or 3/16 stock.
Next up is quenching and tempering. I'm don't know anything about this type of stuff. All I know is that you put the blade in the fire after you've ground it in to shape. I need to know when to pull it out and what type of oil to quench it in. As for tempering, the only thing I have access to is the oven in my kitchen.
Now the Handle.
I don't know what type of handle material to use, but I think that it's gonna have to be some kind of wood. I don't have the equipment to work micarta or G-10. I would appreciate the type of material and the thickness that you would recommend.
I also need to know how to attach the handle scales to the blade. I know that you need to use epoxy and pins, but I'm clueless as to how you put them on and what order you do it in. Do you just epoxy the scales on, then tap the pins through? I've heard some things about 1/8 inch brass rods.
I've been thinking about drilling holes around the profile and using a good ol' hacksaw to cut it out. I have access to a bench grinder, so I can smooth out the edges with that and a couple of files, but like I said I'm not gonna buy a belt grinder.
That brings me to my next problem. Putting the grind on the knife. I have some files, sandpaper, and a bench grinder, but you can't put a grind on a knife with a bench grinder.
Here's a list of the tools that I have to work with:

Files
Sandpaper
Hacksaw
Bench Grinder
Electric Hand Drill

Any advice or tips that you might have are appreciated!!
Also, I need some websites for buying the blade steel, handle material, epoxy and pins, etc. (knife supply sites)

Thanks!

Jeff
 
Jeff,
Do one of two things.
Either spend $20 and buy Ed Fowlers $50 knife shop book.This book is a great place to start.
or
Do a search on each specific topic you want to learn in this Forum.
There is a tremendous amount of info here. The archives are great also.

or
plan C
Hang around for a year reading random posts...;)
Sorry had to do that!

Just take the time to read up first and then ask the questions your not clear on...we are always glad to help the new guys.
Robert
 
I would have done a search, but the search function is disabled for basic members.

Jeff
 
My bit of advice, start with something simple... Here is a knife design that is about as easy as it gets.. Pure, simple, effective, lots of bang for the buck without much difficulty... Of course this one has a few added touches, but you get the idea;)
 

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Jeff, I'll just answer one of your questions for now.

I suggest you buy precision ground blade stock, it's much easier to deal with.

You're on the right track profiling with a drill and hacksaw. After you've profiled your blade, drill the holes for your handle pins and countersink the holes. Then scribe your desired grind lines on the blank and (I would) use your bench grinder to take off most of the steel. Then use a file to finish the remaining grind, and clean up with sandpaper on a block.

Once you have your blade shaped and taken to about a 400 grit finish you'll be ready for the heat treat. Many people here will recommend less finish before heat treat, maybe 220 grit, but I suggested 400 because soft steel is easier to sand than hardened steel is. Depending on the use for your knife, cleaning up with 400 grit after HT might be okay.

Dave
 
I used Jonesy's tutorial that ferguson mentioned to make my first knife. And by the way, If you make two knives, you will probably make more. It is a good idea to make a couple to see if you really like it before investing in a bunch of tools.

-chris
 
Two things, think it's Wayne Goddards $50 knife book, not Fowler. THough if Fowler has a book like that too I guess I better get on Amazon. :)

Trace have you good suggestion on that design. I have a copy of that knie in process right now too. If you can get your hands on one, for hand tools, dremel works great for finger grooves and those little notches for grip on the back.
 
Forgot to mention. Be forewarned now, it is NOT very likely you're gonna be able to stop after just one or two knives. I was only making one or two too and I'm on #8 now. It's an evil addiction, but lots of fun. :)
 
Get some precision ground O1. It will cost a little more than 1095, but makes a better blade and is easier to heat treat properly. With 1095, you have very little time to quench once you have the steel at critical temperature. O1 gives the hobbyist a little more time to quench and still get a proper heat treat. If you mess up the heat treat, O1 lets you start over as long as you dont overheat the steel. And, despite all the newfangled super steels going around, O1 makes a really great blade!
 
I dont know if you can still get it, but I got a book about making knives a few years ago from Bob Engernath. Now Bob has past away, but I think his wife runs the business. He put together a really good guide about hand sanding, sanding blocks and all sorts of "tips" for doing knife work without the "power tools" I put 3 kits together using his blades and stuff. They came out pretty good, and his advice was well received. They are out of California, but I dont remeber where. I can find the book I got in with my knife stuff and e mail you the last address that I have. ( if you want me to). Also, there is a book about making knives that sells for about 20 bucks. O dont remember the name but its still around . I had one and cant find it now. In fact I told my wife to put it on my Christmas list. OH, I dont think the Ed Fowler book would help you that much. Its a real good book to read, I think its not want you want for help tough.
Good luck
Jack
 
ok I found the book in Blade, its How to make Knives and it sells for 14.00 bucks its by Loveless and Barney, Real good book. Also I asked my wife to buy me the 50 dollar kife shop book as well as How to make folding knives, for my christmas this year, I plan on doing some more "learning"
Good luck
Jack
 
Starting with some precision ground stock is a good idea. O1 is an excellent steel and relatively easy to heat treat and files easily. You can make the knife you want with the tools you have. Here is a picture of my first knife I made a few years ago, made with hacksaw, files and paper (I did have a drill press on hand but you can manage with a hand drill) and heat treated with two hand held propane torches and a fire brick enclosure:
 

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My first couple of knives I just used files my grinder stone was realy coarse so I did not use it. Before you file the blade mark out the center of the edge of the blade that way you know how far to file.
This was just my way not the best. I filled the back of the bevels first then went forward. once i got close I draw filled with as fine
file. then sanded the to get the thing flat I stuck some sand/emery paper to a piece of 10mm thick glass. Laded the blade flat and rubbed it smooth and dead flat. way to hard if your going to make a lot of knives.

Heat treating. I have tempered a knive in the kitchen oven but not heat treated. From memory 8 years ago 420degrees f for an hour that was for spring steel. Ill try to find a few notes I took from a mates book. if Im wrong Ill get back tommorrow and amend it.
Good luck I think you have made a wise choice starting with a small knife. I started the glass trick with a 10 inch turned out great but wow took a lot of rubbing.
 
Jeff,

I too started out wanting to make just one knife for myself, that was my first mistake. For me it didn't matter that my first knife turned out great, I knew that I could do better. This led me to knife number two. Knife number two was the same pattern as knife number one, it just had fewer mistakes. I gave it to my father for Christmas. Then I wanted to "expand my horizons" and make a different pattern. It also turned out better than my first knife, but because it was put together a little bit differently than the first two, it had some mistakes that needed improvement. And so it went for the last 4 years. I still don't have any power tools except for a buffer and a drill press. But then I only turn out 3 or 4 knives a year and so far that's enough.

My first recommendation that I would add to everyone elses recommendations is to buy the book "How to make knives" by Barney and Loveless. This is the book that I started with. It doesn't cover every question that will come up. Like... When filing the bevels on the blade do I do it by pushing the file from the edge towards the spine or spine to edge. Everyone will have a different opinion, I just had to learn what worked best for me. (I prefer edge to spine).

As far as your tool list is concerned, You will definitely need a good vise. It takes a lot of effort to remove steel from your prospective knife. Without a vise your knife will be moving all over the place. Also, vise grips go a long ways when clamping for drilling and gluing.

I too recommend precision ground stock. I have used O-1 with great results. However, I recommend sending your knife out to be profesionally heat treated. The guys in this forum make it sound really simple and to them it has become easier over time. It's not exactly rocket science, but I think that you will enjoy the experience a whole lot more if the knife that you just put a lot of time money and effort into isn't ruined while learning how to heat treat.

For the handle material, you can probably shape just about anything with the tools that you listed. I'll list a couple of Knife supply places that you can go to on the web. They will have all kinds of nice looking handle materials, steel and anything else that you need to make a knive.

http://www.knifeandgun.com/
http://www.knifeart.com/
http://www.knifemaking.com/

Good luck, and don't forget to post pictures of your first, second and any other knives that you make.

Rick
http://www.texasknife.com/
 
Jeff,
I had all the same equipment that you have but started with a stainless steel instead (major bitch to file and grind with !!!). I used the bench grinder 6" stones coarse to profile with. Like Trace said, stick to an easy and simple design. Whether you grind the profile or drill holes for the profile, you'll find it a long process with a lot of little mishaps. Maybe get some scrap metal and do a little practice first so that your hand gets steadier. Be sure to break out some calipers and or a ruler so that your dimensions are sure. Especially when doing the bevel areas. With a hand file it's fun and satisfying when the product is complete but it takes a LONG time as you will discover some wild strokes with the file that might make you start over again. Get sand paper from 50 to 400 grit or so. Buy a buffing wheel that will fit your bench grinder and buy the appropriate rouges, grey - white, etc. depending on desired finish. You will definately need a vise ! attached to a secure bench to control the blade while filing, etc. You can also get a 1" X 30" belt sander for like $70. that will also help with profiling and be a lot faster than the bench grinder (That's how I made my second knife). I stepped up to a better grinder at every chance (when my fanancial situation allowed). Good luck buddy.....RDT
 
At first, you can get away with only buying ten or fifteen books on knifemaking.

When you're done with that, though, you'll really need to get your hands on all the rest of them.

Then its just a question of reading every single thread on every single knifemaking/swordmaking forum you can find.

Finally you'll have it licked and will only need to keep current with the forums/books/magazines/shows which really won't take much time at all...:rolleyes:

-Dave
 
Jeff,
Try the "Custom Knife Directory" web site they have a bunch of great tutorials.
Sorry I forgot the search was disabled.
And it is Goddards book not Fowlers:D
 
By now you have probably had all your questions answered. Or maybe not, I have made about 10 knives now and still like to see things in triplicate before I go and try them out!

It is a bummer not having the search function working. When I was starting I saved a bunch of threads about treating O-1, some about guards, handles, pins, steel composition, how color relates to temperature in simple steels, and so on. I am sure that a lot of it is stuff that you have (or could) find again, but if you want I can send the stuff that I found most useful. It took me from building kit knives to treating my own O-1 blade, and let me tell you, having a blade that you have treated yourself is a WAY cooler than having one that someone else has done. Or it was for me :D

http://www.engnath.com/public/intable.htm
http://www.customknifedirectory.com/CKD_TutorialFrameset.htm
http://www.cancom.net/~hnilica/

The above are excellent places to get info.
 
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