Knife Making

General conversation and chit chat - The place for non-shooting specific topics. Introduce yourself here.

Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 1:10 pm

If anyone is into making blades, show us all your set up and some of your work. I'm pretty new to it all and teaching myself from good old YouTube and other online resources. Here are some picks of my simple set up and some blades I'm working on.

IMG_0528.JPG
Home made forge and small anvil.
IMG_0528.JPG (1.86 MiB) Viewed 5055 times


IMG_0532.JPG
Forge fired up to 1/2 for 5 mins.
IMG_0532.JPG (1.29 MiB) Viewed 5055 times
Last edited by Gwion on 10 Aug 2016, 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 1:15 pm

IMG_0529.JPG
Grinding station.
IMG_0529.JPG (1.69 MiB) Viewed 5055 times


IMG_0531.JPG
Sharpening station with refreshments in the background.
IMG_0531.JPG (1.38 MiB) Viewed 5055 times
Last edited by Gwion on 10 Aug 2016, 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 1:20 pm

I'll update as progress continues on these knives.

image.jpeg
Works in progress.
image.jpeg (1.81 MiB) Viewed 5118 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 1:23 pm

bentaz wrote:Thats cool, I'd love to have a go at making my own knife.


Cheers mate. Still need more gear, like high temp IR laser thermometer so I can control heats for heat treatment and also learn to forge weld, etc.. Plus drill press, band saw.....
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by <<Genesis93>> » 10 Aug 2016, 1:31 pm

Good stuff.... knives are on my list to do ... too...

I liked the damasc'esque' look from the hammering ridges , folding, repeat repeat...love it...theres a good youtube vid is watched some time ago...

Are you folding or just flattening and forming? looks like layering in the photo or is it the flash....
<<Genesis93>>
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2191
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 1:42 pm

No folding. My attempts at forge welding have been abject failures so far. Not hot enough and no flux... Experiments have not worked. Trying to find a cheap source of borax.

The lines on the big skinner are reflection of shed roof in the mirror polish... which took ages to do be hand last winter!
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Supaduke » 10 Aug 2016, 1:52 pm

Good work, got enough hobbies on the go at the moment. Missus would probably have a conniption if I bought a forge home lol.
Supaduke
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1230
Victoria

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 2:33 pm

Roughing out some brass baulsters.

image.jpeg
image.jpeg (970.98 KiB) Viewed 5086 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 4:18 pm

Fitted baulsters after a few minor hassles and the bit of maple to cut scales from.

image.jpeg
image.jpeg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 5077 times


image.jpeg
image.jpeg (1.1 MiB) Viewed 5077 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 5:06 pm

Scale blanks cut.

Fitted now but glue is drying; will update after rough shaping.

image.jpeg
image.jpeg (710.75 KiB) Viewed 5074 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Supaduke » 10 Aug 2016, 5:49 pm

That will look very good once completed. Some nice figure in that timber, maple is very pleasing to the eye. Is it Queensland or Canadian maple ?
Supaduke
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1230
Victoria

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 6:21 pm

Norwegian maple. Commonly called Sychamore Maple. I have hectares of it and am trying to develop a market with stringed instrument & furniture makers.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 10 Aug 2016, 7:29 pm

Oops.. half the pics are sideways (and pretty crappy)! They looked fine on my phone. I'll fix them later.

So, scales were fitted, rough shaped, tidied up and given a quick coat of clear so the timber doesn't get contaminated when i do the final shaping and sanding.

IMG_0538[1].JPG
Rough shaping.
IMG_0538[1].JPG (1.54 MiB) Viewed 5057 times


IMG_0539.JPG
Brass pins peined out and scales shaped down to baulsters.
IMG_0539.JPG (295.14 KiB) Viewed 5057 times


IMG_0540.JPG
Initial coat of clear...
IMG_0540.JPG (350.14 KiB) Viewed 5057 times


So, not really happy with the fit between the scales and the baulsters when the pic is that close up. Might look at putting a bit of blackwood for contrast or find some other fix. Not so noticeable in the hand but i'd like to find a fix for it. Also, i'll use a proper camera next time. These pics are crap.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by tom604 » 10 Aug 2016, 10:29 pm

sh#t you have some skills fella :thumbsup: and a lot,and i mean A LOT of patience :shock: you must of spent hours and hours and hours polishing the blades :thumbsup: and you have pretty much all the gear,,so jealous about the forge :thumbsup: and the grinder and the anvil ;)
my forge
2015-09-15 001 010.jpg
2015-09-15 001 010.jpg (47.05 KiB) Viewed 5042 times


and my anvil is a bit of railway track :lol: sorry no pics of that

a few that i have made,forge got a bit hot and started to melt the steel :oops:
2015-09-15 001 010.jpg
2015-09-15 001 010.jpg (47.05 KiB) Viewed 5042 times
Attachments
2016-04-11 001 003 (800x600).jpg
2016-04-11 001 003 (800x600).jpg (340.74 KiB) Viewed 5042 times
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Knife Making

Post by tom604 » 10 Aug 2016, 10:33 pm

mmmm seems like my pic posting could use some work?? :oops: :thumbsup:
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 11 Aug 2016, 6:32 am

Looks good, Tom. The set up I started with was a fire drum and a piece of track iron that would make you laugh. The only knife I made with it came out more like a hand axe! Your set up is far more sophisticated. I particularly like the cooks knife. I'll try another cooks knife soon; the last one I tried ended up too thin and uneven and kept warping in the quench.

Yeah. That big skinner (and a smaller one I made for a friend) took a VERY long time to make by forging, filing, polishing. With the new gear and more practice, things are speeding up and quality is improving.

The knife on the pics is a carver for a mate who built my forge stand and fringing pedestal for me in barter for some fire wood and a knife.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 11 Aug 2016, 6:55 am

Weather is too cactus for work so I'll be back in the workshop with the blades today. Should have at least 2 finished by the end of the day.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Oldbloke » 11 Aug 2016, 9:12 am

Gwion wrote:I'll update as progress continues on these knives.

image.jpeg



Lookin good
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 11 Aug 2016, 5:23 pm

Lots of pics of progress today but the camera ran out of batteries as I was cutting them for editing.

Here is where the knives are up to taken on my phone. Will load other pics later.

These ones just need more coats of finish and and edge grind.

image.jpeg
Carving knife. Blackwood shims to tidy up the fit.
image.jpeg (1.9 MiB) Viewed 4822 times


image.jpeg
Brisket knife with Blackwood handle cut from an old fence dropper.
image.jpeg (681.06 KiB) Viewed 4822 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Mongrel » 11 Aug 2016, 7:32 pm

Your one talented man :)

Love your work...
Norinco 22lr
Howa 1500 308
Just the beginning :)
User avatar
Mongrel
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 219
Queensland

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 11 Aug 2016, 9:48 pm

Thanks mate. You're too kind. :oops: :D
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by tom604 » 11 Aug 2016, 9:54 pm

like the incorporated bolster in the second knife, that would off given you some grey hairs to shape :thumbsup: and the pale skinner could do double duty as a heavy duty fillet knife :thumbsup: she's a big one by the looks of it :thumbsup:
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Knife Making

Post by Oldbloke » 11 Aug 2016, 10:35 pm

Veery nice G, very nice indeed
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 12 Aug 2016, 8:48 am

Thanks OB!

So, it's apparent that i cant take a photo to save myself at the moment, but the following will give some idea of the process I follow for fitting scales.

blackwood shims.jpg
First thing i did for the day was fit some blackwood shims to fix the dodgy fit between maple scales and the baulsters on this carving knife.
blackwood shims.jpg (166.86 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


While the glue set, i went on fitting the blackwood scales to the brisket knife.

blackwood billet.jpg
Marking out the black wood billet that is cut from an old fence dropper. Tasmania, the land where premium timber is used to fence in sheep.....
blackwood billet.jpg (188.58 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


need bandsaw.jpg
And this is why i need a band saw. Cutting blackwood for scales is slow by hand but i have also wasted quite a few pieces of antler trying to cut it by hand. Luckily i am friendly with the local deer farmers, so antlers aren't hard to come by.
need bandsaw.jpg (213.65 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


drilling pins.jpg
Then the front of the scales are shaped as close to finished as possible and the pins are drilled for fit. This is why i need a drill press or mill, because things can and do go annoyingly wrong when doing this bit by hand.
drilling pins.jpg (186.31 KiB) Viewed 4801 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 12 Aug 2016, 9:05 am

con't...

scales roughed.jpg
Then the scales are roughed out to a basic outline...
scales roughed.jpg (220.34 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


glued & pinned.jpg
and glued and pinned.
glued & pinned.jpg (224.29 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


maple finished.jpg
while glue (5min epoxy lightly clamped & left in side next to wood stove for post heat) set on the blackwood scales, i finished the maple handle by hand down to 220 grit and gave it a light coat of finish.
maple finished.jpg (142.16 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


scale 1st grind.jpg
After peining the pins, scales are ground down to fit the handle. Careful not to get too hot & burn the timber or effect the epoxy. Brass heats up very quickly!
scale 1st grind.jpg (234.61 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


scales shaped.jpg
Then the scales are shaped using a combination of belt, disk and hand tools down to 220grit.
scales shaped.jpg (223.42 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


first coat.jpg
And finally, the scales get their initial 'egg shell' coat of finish... they will probably get about 5 coats before i call it done.
first coat.jpg (165.59 KiB) Viewed 4801 times


When both knives are propery completed and edge ground, i will put some proper pretty pics up. You saw the basic idea above.

The weather is again not conducive to swinging a chainsaw for 6hrs, so i will get back in the shed and start fitting baulsters and scales to the remaining two near completed blades.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by tom604 » 15 Aug 2016, 1:44 pm

what do you use to quench? i just use old sump oil :oops: i know some use canola oil (new! :shock: :lol: )

im trying to make a railway spike knife at the moment :problem: ive made it a few inches longer but she's still got a fair bit off thickness,like 1/2 an inch!!
so i will have to spend a bit of time on the hammer just to get her close :thumbsdown: might end up as a short sword :lol: :lol:
User avatar
tom604
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1053
South Australia

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 15 Aug 2016, 6:38 pm

Been using either peanut oil or water; depending on steel and thickness/size of blade.

Those spikes would take a fair bit of work with the hammer. Just started forging a farriers' rasp, I think it may end up a beast!
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Diesel » 16 Aug 2016, 1:57 pm

tom604 wrote:what do you use to quench? i just use old sump oil :oops: i know some use canola oil (new! :shock: :lol: )

im trying to make a railway spike knife at the moment :problem: ive made it a few inches longer but she's still got a fair bit off thickness,like 1/2 an inch!!
so i will have to spend a bit of time on the hammer just to get her close :thumbsdown: might end up as a short sword :lol: :lol:


Usually very good steel, over the years I have made plenty of cold chisels, knives etc out of them. Hammering out old case hardened timco outer bearing races is a better bet, if you can get big ones. But if all you can do is cold grind then truck springs are your friend.

Proper tempering and hardening is always necessary.
Diesel
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 35
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by darwindingo » 20 Aug 2016, 7:44 pm

Beautiful work Gwion and Tom, Really impressive stuff..

:drinks:

Jeff
“Accidental Discharges” DO NOT OCCUR !!

An "Unintended Discharge" is nothing more than the lack of appropriate safety procedures or the failure to follow them..!

I love my country, but fear my government.
User avatar
darwindingo
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 596
-

Re: Knife Making

Post by Gwion » 22 Aug 2016, 11:47 am

So, I finally got around to taking a better pic. The carving knife has already gone to it's new home.

Over a few beers, whiskys and a lot of bulls@*t, a mate and i drew up what we thought would make a pair of good knives for home meat processing for sheep, pigs, cattle. This is the result.

Paired up.jpg
Paired up.jpg (548.37 KiB) Viewed 4748 times


And below makes the trio. This one is for skinning and fleshing large hides. I made this one entirely by hand... no machinery... then i bought a belt grinder! :lol: :lol: :lol:

KNIFE-#2-06.jpg
KNIFE-#2-06.jpg (598.84 KiB) Viewed 4748 times


KNIFE-#2-02.jpg
KNIFE-#2-02.jpg (258.72 KiB) Viewed 4748 times
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Off topic - General conversation