Water stone shaped kitchen knives.

T

Tmh2490

Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
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Hello,
All

I have question, I am currently a crippled chef(Broke my leg really badly). I would like to make my own knife the design I have been working on is a hybrid nakiri/ Chinese cleaver with a clip point. My income is extremely limited because of my physical therapy. So my question is could I make my knife using my whet stones and a micrometer? I have all grains from 200 through 8000 and a 20000 strop. Also Ii would want to send it out for heat treatment. I want to make my own knife because I am generally disappointed with my collection and would like to have a onife to suit my style of cooking. Any input would be appreciated thanks for reading
 
Do you mean put the grind on with whetstones?


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Man oh man will you be at it for a while! You will probably cost more to your whet stones than it would to go my some files if you don't want to look for a cheap machine to start with. I think about how much work I have to put in on my stones when simply working out a chip in my chisels, i could not imagine trying to grind and entire bevel from scratch with them...
 
Yeah, even a bench grinder with a lower grit (think 60) takes a relatively long time to grind a knife - like 10-15 minutes a side if you're going slow. I've done grinds using a file jig before and I was at it for easily a couple hours on a knife with a 4 inch 1/16th thick blade.


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I suggest you fill out your profile with location and such. A nearby maker my offer to help you get the profile and main bevels started. From there you can use sandpaper and stones to shape the blade. He may do the HT for you as well.

There is a good bit more than just shaping the blade involved in making a quality kitchen blade. You are almost surely going to need some help.
 
Alternatively, You could design your perfect chef knife in theory, then create from that drawing a 3d model on a piece of cork board or thin plywood etc. Tweak any changes you want and fully finalize your design. Once you have your design made some custom makers welcome customers designs, and will make the knife, for you up to the point that you could take over. Much like purchasing a "knife kit" or blade kit from knife making supply houses. They send you a hardened preground blade ready for a handle and sharpening. I assure you you will want to do all your profiling and shaping with a power tool of some sort. If you were going to go low tech a rasp and a few files can get you where you need to be. Youre leaving out a good portion of the knife making process however. Generally speaking you create the profile (shape) of the blade, rough grind to near final blade's thickness, Heat treat to include tempering, final grind to final thickness, polish (which is what your stones would be doing), handle attach, sharpen.

Hope this helps a little.
 
If you buy a large bastard file, a single cut triangular file, a hecksaw and sandpaper you'll have your knife for under $50,- and tools to make more.

Your leg is bad luck but you may want to use what it gives you.
Weter you like it or not it does give you time and you can make the most of that.
Read, read, read, this forum is full of knolledge (for free), have a look at the kitchen knife sub forum and maybe get a book or two.

Take your time to make templates and try them out.
It can be good to have something new to focus on when your health prohibits you to do what you did before.
 
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