Ok, so this thread is coming soon, like by the end of the week. I was going to do it today, but I forgot my camera at home..
Anyways, I'll teach you the basics of making a knife..
http://s15.postimg.org/hzmh57md7/knife.jpgThis is one I did maybe 10 days ago, seen some abuse and still kicking, with poor steel even it will slice newspaper like nothing at the end of the day. The blade is too big, and it is sloppy, I know, and this was my first try at making a handle, so it is shit, but that will improve. The fact is I have read enough to know what I am talking about, even if I cannot yet produce results equivalent of that knowledge. I am here to teach you to make a blade itself.
This is what I would have thought you today, had I brought my camera..
http://s15.postimg.org/4jzgfrdvf/forgeknife.jpgForged from chunk of spring steel from a semi, and then stock removed from there. It has been shaped, the bevel was started (not finished though, to prevent warping during the harden), it was hardened, and tempered.. I tried to grind a small hold in it with the drill press just to see today, and fuck, I almost burned the press out without making a scratch. After the picture, I cleaned it up with a buffer wheel, put a 90% final edge on it, and cut my handle wood to shape and set it, tomorrow I will sharpen it to RAZOR sharp. Finish up my handle (the holes are not for pins BTW, ill explain later), and have a knife... Anyways..
Like I said, I would like to take pictures, step by step as I make a new knife, so the bulk of this will have to wait until later in the week. For now what I can tell you to get ready is the following:
A belt sander is ideal, a bench grinding stone will serve, files will work but expect to spend ALOT of time working them, and sandpaper alone... Well it will do, but you will have popeye arms at the end.
An angle grinder with a cut-off wheel can help move huge amounts of stock in a minute that you would have spent 15 minutes grinding away.
As for steel, I will be showing you how to cut out your knife from a sheet. So, lawnmower blades are great for this type of work, good steel, already thin, and easy to harden. If you don't have one of those, find some random sheet of steel to practice with.
If you are going to make a handle, honestly, just use poor wood for your first try. I made my first handle out of a piece of lathe for marking lines in the ground... Cheapest wood ever.. I wasn't going to spend $20 on the hardwood for a handle just to fuck it up.
A vice would be nice. A drill, with good bits, or a drill press.
A fine belt for your grinder, a finer grind stone, or some finer sandpaper.
Some type of glue.
Those are pretty much all you will need, along with access to a work space and some other random tools everyone should have.
Anyways, like I said, I'll fill this thread out properly in the coming days, with pictures and shit.. Pretty sure this is the next knife design I want to try, so it will likely be the one I show you to make, within the next few days..
http://s28.postimg.org/g5qzsmljx/435345.jpgSee you soon.
