DanRM Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Hello, i am looking to make a nice, small, multi purpose knife but will mainly be needed for budding and pruning . So i need a knife that is able to be sharpened to something like a razor. Where would the best bet of getting good quality metal to begin my project? Maybe out of something like a tool i already have around the house? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 A file - see here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 Go to a bootsale mate and get a metal file for pennies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy RV Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 If you don't want to have to anneal an old file you want some 01 ground flat stock, this can be bought from cromwells in loads of different sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAN88 Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 A old cheisel or smoothing plane blade what would be perfect is look for either surface or thicknesser plane blades you see them adverts in machine mart or sometimes at car boots brilliant old steel (sheffield) dont loose it edge also small ads its worth the wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted April 18, 2009 Report Share Posted April 18, 2009 I used to receive a catalogue by post from Attelborough Accessories. I remember that they offered a range of knife blanks. It may be worthwhile tracking them down. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 http://www.attacc.com/acatalog/Attleboroug...NIFEMAKING.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Been thinking about this again myself, maybe i will buy the blade already completed and then spend the time making the handle..does take a bit extra time doing the blade yourself but it is interesting and satisfying at the end of the day to make something yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanRM Posted April 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 i did think of going down the chisel route, but im not sure on how to cut and shape it as it being hardened metal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 You heat it fist i done mine in the garden chimmney...this softens the metal and you cut with a hacksaw or angle grinder, when finished you re-heat and then dip it in oil to harden the metal again.....do a search on you tube there are some good videos on there on how todo this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 I can highly reccommend the Brusletto blanks sold by Attelborough Accessories, very sharp and keep a good edge. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 You heat it fist i done mine in the garden chimmney...this softens the metal and you cut with a hacksaw or angle grinder, when finished you re-heat and then dip it in oil to harden the metal again.....do a search on you tube there are some good videos on there on how todo this After that you have to temper the blade, the steel is to brittle after the first hardening process. BJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 best steel I ever got for knives was old bench planer blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanRM Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 (edited) sorry for the wait. If i use the chisel or file when i shape it do i have to do it when its still warm? or can i heat it once and work on it over the week? then reheat it again to harden? And what colours and Temperature need to be achieved? Thanks for your help Edited April 24, 2009 by DanRM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 ok as I remember you get good tool steel and heat till glowing red and slow cool. That should soften it to work on. When it's finished heat to red heat and quench in oil. That's it brittle and will shatter easilly now. Clean it up to bright and put it in the oven till it goes a very pale straw colour and allow to cool that draws the temper. Next put the cutting edge in water and heat the handle till it goes blue that is spring steel making sure the cutting edge stays straw colour. Let it cool and yr done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 ok as I remember you get good tool steel and heat till glowing red and slow cool. That should soften it to work on. When it's finished heat to red heat and quench in oil. That's it brittle and will shatter easilly now. Clean it up to bright and put it in the oven till it goes a very pale straw colour and allow to cool that draws the temper. Next put the cutting edge in water and heat the handle till it goes blue that is spring steel making sure the cutting edge stays straw colour. Let it cool and yr done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jinxy72 Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 industrial hacksaw ( the machine type ) blades make good knifes and can pick them up at car boot sales cheap .... they go razor sharp easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 As part of my apprenticeship we had to sharpen chisels and such. The way we were shown was to heat until red then leave it to cool slowly, then once it was cooled sharpen it. Once we'd sharpend it, we were told to heat until cherry red then quench in oil to temper the blade. A few years back a mate of mine made a file into a knife. I'll get hold of him and find out what he did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanRM Posted April 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Had ago yesterday, i used an old cast iron pot, an exhaust pipe and a car fan in a old drum feeder. Worked well until the 2 12v decoying batteries ran out (couldn't find a car battery charged up). it was then when i noticed the file being 'red' hot. but it didnt look like it had travelled all the way down the file. I had a bit of a test and was able to cut it with a hacksaw and file it a bit. Im assuming that i caught it just right or is it possible to do this to a file in normal state? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antlerman Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 i do a lot of forging and knife making and have used files alot you have too heat them to non magnetic which is a orangey yellowish colour they then shall be soft enough to work easily if you send me afew i could stick them on the forge for you mate.you then have to heat back up too non magnetic and quench in oil, then you temper it by heating up the back of the blade until you get a nice straw colour on the blade. many thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 you can build a wee forge with a few firebricks and get a decent blowtorch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboy1403 Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 go to www.greenpete.co.uk he has a video on there that shows you how to make a knife from an old file. shows you how to anneal it make into knife harden it and temper it. also shows how to make quick forge to harden blade. very good vid about half hour long. ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanRM Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 I had a go and i have made the blade with a good edge, i just need to make a rig like on greenpete so i can get the correct angle for an excellent edge. Then after making a horrific mistake at the end i broke the tang 1/2 way (was a thin knife) so im going to work out away to gas weld the other half back on Then i should be done. the blade looks good and about the right size (2 1/2") for what i wanted so im hoping my mistake hasnt cost me alot of the blades strength Whilst im fixing the tang i will probably try making a more effective forge out of a wheel steel or brake drum (not decide yet) Then im going to get some yew of a friend for the handle Thanks for your you ideas and help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I'm making one at the moment from an old spanner handle! I'll post it up here when I'm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 I have just started makeing one. looking at its progress I think its a bit big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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