Grahame Collins
29th Apr 2007, 09:33 PM
Hi Knife makers,
As there are a few recent posts on knives it would appear that there is a bit of interest around from new members on blade making .For me, the art of custom knife making offered an opportunity to blend my interest in woodworking with my trade skills in metal working. I have enjoyed making a knife for its own sake of blending form, fit and finish into an attractive and durable but still useful item.
Having that interest over the years I would like to offer some information I have gained about starting bladework from a modest base. Not too many of us have excess dollars to fling about. For that reason I would start off with budget in mind.
What tools does a new knife maker need?
A good bench
A good vice with some soft jaws
A hack saw. 32 tpi blades and 24 tpi blades
A drill press is handy but one can get by with an electric hand drill and drill bits to say 6mm
A hammer, center pop, 20mm chisel.
Good files, bastard, 2nd cut, and a file card
Wet and dry abrasive paper 280 gr,400.,600, and 1000gr
A fairly big LPG burner or heating rose for heat treatment
Some Cheap Knife Making Blade Materials
Power hacksaw blades
Old files
Car leaf springs 6mm thick-they taper down thinner than this at the ends.
Broken HSS saw blades.
Old type carbon steel rotary saw blades
Perhaps other members who have made knives could offer their own experiences for making blades on a budget
Here are some links
Article on Aus knife maker
Knife Making | HubPages (http://www.squidoo.com/knife-making/)
amateur knive maker
Good stuff on cheap materials and all phases of knife making
How to Make Your Own Steel Knifes (http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-knives-1.html)
Cheers
Grahame
As there are a few recent posts on knives it would appear that there is a bit of interest around from new members on blade making .For me, the art of custom knife making offered an opportunity to blend my interest in woodworking with my trade skills in metal working. I have enjoyed making a knife for its own sake of blending form, fit and finish into an attractive and durable but still useful item.
Having that interest over the years I would like to offer some information I have gained about starting bladework from a modest base. Not too many of us have excess dollars to fling about. For that reason I would start off with budget in mind.
What tools does a new knife maker need?
A good bench
A good vice with some soft jaws
A hack saw. 32 tpi blades and 24 tpi blades
A drill press is handy but one can get by with an electric hand drill and drill bits to say 6mm
A hammer, center pop, 20mm chisel.
Good files, bastard, 2nd cut, and a file card
Wet and dry abrasive paper 280 gr,400.,600, and 1000gr
A fairly big LPG burner or heating rose for heat treatment
Some Cheap Knife Making Blade Materials
Power hacksaw blades
Old files
Car leaf springs 6mm thick-they taper down thinner than this at the ends.
Broken HSS saw blades.
Old type carbon steel rotary saw blades
Perhaps other members who have made knives could offer their own experiences for making blades on a budget
Here are some links
Article on Aus knife maker
Knife Making | HubPages (http://www.squidoo.com/knife-making/)
amateur knive maker
Good stuff on cheap materials and all phases of knife making
How to Make Your Own Steel Knifes (http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-knives-1.html)
Cheers
Grahame