NewbieKnife Maker Thread

[photoman509]

I literally just got a bench grinder and decided to buy some steel from the hardware store and try to make my own knife, something I have always wanted to do and now that I am on unemployment after losing my job with the Washington State Liquor Control Board I have time to pursue it . I don't have a forge, I read online that I can harden still harden my knife using my oven at450 degrees for one hour letting cool and repeating three times so I was planning to try that unless some of you tell me otherwise. I am attaching a photo... please dont laugh Its my first try lol, I am curious how you get them so smooth and shiny, I am using my bench grinder, vise, a file and sand paper at the moment. I would like to have a belt sander but cant afford one at the moment. Any tips for a newb would be greatly appreciated, thanks

 

[photoman509]

Oops forgot the pic http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d181/leathercolr/081412212854.jpg

 

[BenR.T.]

Start by reading some of the stickied info here

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...mon-Questions-Asked-by-New-Makers-and-Members

 

[photoman509]

Thanks!

 

[SharpByCoop]

Hi photoman509. Welcome and good luck in your learning and trials. Stick around and spend more time in the Knifemaker's forum instead of here. Better place for your queries.

LOL! The Photobomb toe in your image. Happens often. Never helps with credibility....

Coop

 

[Morrow]

Moving this one to Shoptalk.

 

[james terrio]

...I read online that I can harden still harden my knife using my oven at 450 degrees for one hour letting cool and repeating three times...

Nope. You're describing a basic tempering regimen, that will remove stress and brittleness from a properly hardened blade of simple steel. See the stickies for info on actually hardening steel.

 

[Broomhead]

Hardening is done with a forge and something to quench the red hot metal in, different types of oils generally. Tempering is done in an oven and like James stated relieves stress in the steel and reduces the brittleness.

Decent first start. Hand sanding will get it nice and shiny depending on how high you go in grits. Use a hard backing block and sand in only one direction.

Oh, and read the stickies at the top of the Shoptalk Forum.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I think this sticky will do you a lot of good:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/694673-How-to-instructions-for-making-a-knife

The steel from a hardware store will not harden or make a knife that will hold an edge. It will be fine for a prison shank, but that is about all.
As said, hardening is different from tempering. The stickies on Heat Treatment will explain that.