Working on my first knives

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psycho78

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
1,108
I've been here for awhile and have learned a whole lot from you guys. After alot of reading, googling over some of you guys knives, and dreaming over the years, I thought I'd start working on one of my own. So far I have nothing much as far as tools. I have a little craftsman belt grinder, a hacksaw, a few files, and a picnic table....lol. Planning on getting a little drill press soon.

I bought some supplies awhile back to try my hand at making a slipjoint folder. I decided that maybe a fixed blade would be easier. I have a 18 inch piece of O-1 tool steel that is 3x32 thick and an inch wide. I'm kinda concerned about the thickness of the blade. I'm thinking that it will warp badly during heat treatment.

Anyway, here's my first attempt so far. it's only halfway profiled, but just getting this far is exciting to me, and I'm proud of it :p

000_2353.jpg


knife2.jpg


Here's another knife i had drawn out on the other end of the steel. I'm still playing with it some. Not happy with the handle. It will probably turn out completely different when ground out anyway. :p

knife3.jpg


Back at it tomorrow. Hopefully I can have this thing profiled out. Any tips on heat treatment? Should I do that before I try the bevels?

By the way....hacksaws suck.
 
Looks like a good start sir. It is exciting and you should be proud.
The important thing is that you've taken that first step, the rest will come in good time.
You're about 2 hours north of me. Maybe we can hook up one of these days and compare notes. Best of luck. ~Cliff
 
Those are nice designs. I started with a Craftsman 4x36, hacksaw and files too. These tools work. I would definately grind the bevels before I HT.
 
Cool, looks like a good start. You can do a lot with simple hand tools. I did my first knife with files and an angle grinder. Take your time and enjoy learning. I live about an hour north of you in Union, KY right by the I75 / I71 cut off to Louisville right off the Richwood exit. Maybe we can get together sometime. I learned what I know from the fourms and self experimentation and I am still learning. There is so much to learn. It's a blast and a cool hobby.
 
Thanks guys. I'd read about annealed steel being "soft".....and I thought the grinder would just eat right through this stuff. Boy was I wrong. Belts dont last long either....:(

I figured I had two options with this one.

Grind bevels - easier time grinding and filing, bad warpage.

Not grind bevels - harder time grindng, less chance of warpage.

I'll grind in the bevels like you say Ray. Shouldn't be too bad because the stock is relatively thin.
 
Might have to take you local guys up on these offers.

It's funny because I was getting so excited seeing the grinder take my steel to the shape I wanted that I burnt the crap out of my fingers holding on too long....lol. :p
 
i filed out lots of blades, and made a bunch of knives with a dremal,files, and a bbq grill
man the blisters i use to get on my finger tips!!!

andrew
 
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