learning to make a knife

just in case · Post by **just in case** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:26 pm

I got a question and I hope this is the right place to put it.I got some saw blades from work . They are for cutting brick.They are about 20 inches in diameter. Will this be good for making knives and should it be heat treated ? Thanks ,Jason

knifemaker3 · Post by **knifemaker3** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:06 pm

without knowing what type of steel it is it will be difficult to answer your question.

Are they carbide? Carbide tipped? Will they rust? etc.

If you can cut them with a torch, you can cut the blade shape out leaving plenty of room for the steel you will ruin, then grind the blade to shape making sure you get past the blue steel left from cutting while making sure to not get it too hot and to the steel blue from grinding. once you have the blade shaped you can then grind the bevels, polish, etc. to you liking. It is going to be difficult to drill holes for your handles but you can blow hole in with a cutting torch if you are very careful.

There is much more to it than that but that is the quick rundown of how to do it IF you have a workable steel to begin with.

just in case · Post by **just in case** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 2:25 am

KM3, Thanks for your reply ! I would guess they are high carbon steel. they will rust. they are diamond tipped and used to wet cut brick.I have cut one blank out .Using a saws all with a metal cutting blade.I have done some filing and sanding to get some edge on it. I got some marketa (?) that an old guy got at the paper mill he worked at.I started grinding it down for some handles. Damn am I havin fun ! I need a band saw bad! I got an old sears and roebuck belt grinder and re built it from parts but the two old electric motors I had were junk ...6'' belt and 9''disk .I gotta get some pics up to see what you think.... Jason

knifemaker3 · Post by **knifemaker3** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:08 pm

If you were able to cut the blade blank out with a metal cutting band saw it is not hardened and may only be mild steel.

Try this test. Grind a piece of it and watch the sparks coming off it. Then grind something like a lawnmower blade and watch the sparks off it. Hardened steel will have bright flashy burst at the end of the sparks and unhardened will be much less spectacular.

I would say you are using mild steel or some equivalent. Great to practice with but will not hold an edge.

Don't want to discourage you in any way. Just don't want you disappointed when the results may not turn out like you want.

Keep us posted!

just in case · Post by **just in case** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:10 pm

Well , I'll show the knife I been working on.The metal maybe too soft to hold an edge.But like Craig said good to practice on .Dont laugh. I did this with a saws all and a 4'' grinder.I guess you got to start some where, right ? I still got alot of grinding on the micarta.And I m going to finish it anyway ...its a learning experience.

knifemaker3 · Post by **knifemaker3** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:58 pm

That looks good. When you get it sharpened try cutting with it and see how well it holds up. If it was hardenable steel it won't take very much cutting to let you know.

And, if it is mild steel or some equivalent it's still a great learning experience. A lot of the old timers in knifemaking used to tell everyone to start out grinding on mild steel until you learn good techniques as it is much cheaper.

If anyone laughs at you don't worry about it....they are just jealous 'cause they can't even begin to do what you have already done!

just in case · Post by **just in case** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:41 pm

Craig, Thanks for the words of encouragement and advice! I will keep you posted. Jason

just in case · Post by **just in case** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:05 am

Allright, I jb welded this thing togather , put the pins in and let it dry. Oh ,yea, I had a bit of aluminum laying around so I cut and pinned some bolisters on her. After drying I cut the pins and peened them .Then I did some more grinding. Still need some work on the fit and finish under th bolster. and some fine sanding here and there. I have an edge on it and have been whittling on a peice of hickory. Seems to hold an edge ok. But if I chop at it there are little dints in the edge.

How do I shine this micarta back up ? Thanks Jason

knifemaker3 · Post by **knifemaker3** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:34 pm

fine grits of sandpaper and lots of elbow grease for shining the micarta. I usually take it down to @ 600 grit and then buff on a buffing wheel with fabulustre buffing compound or white rouge.