First knife

[Kimall]

I have not got the forge going yet and was keen to do some playing in the shed today so made one without heat from an old file.Its not finished as it need to be heat treated and polised and glued up but looks ok at this stage.Cheers KIM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/P1020645.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/P1020644_edited.jpg

[rory]

Kim that looks friggin tops mate, love it :!: :D

[adam]

One of the best shed knifes I've seen mate, I'd prefer that then any custom made job or mass produce knife there is, great charactor indeed.

I must try something simular when I get home in 4 weeks.

Adam

[Luke]

Very nice mate :D

8)

[Grunter]

Look out Bunnings 8) I think they will have a rush on sales for files on Monday. Top shape knife there Kim, really looks to like it will be a very practical field knife mate.

[jindydiver]

What a ripper
I made a bunch of blades from files when I first started and they are as tough as anything you can buy, and the materials couldn't get cheaper :)

If you aren't putting and cap or guard on it to cover that hole you will need to fill it. Epoxy coloured with a pinch of toner will do the job nicely :)

[Poppy]

Kim top work (there stands the village blacksmith) :lol:
love your work mate.
It would make a good Xmas present :wink:
Cheers
Paul

[Paul R]

Very cool mate, I must give it a try myself one day. :D

[Kimall]

Thanks guys for all the feedback. :D I heat treated the blade and have given it a polish and it has come up good it didnt warp or crack so thats a good thing.I have sharpened it and it took a bit to get a edge and it did not really roll a burr over so I think it is hard enough on the edge.
Jindy thanks for that it means a lot to get a compliment from a pro. :wink: I have not decided how I am going to finish the handle near the blade but will fill it with epoxy when I glue the handle on.Thanks for the tip about the toner though.It has come up really sharp and is shaving no probs.I will post some more pics when all done.
Cheers KIM

[XTfreak]

Nice knife...
Bill

[jindydiver]

Honestly mate, you are a natural. The hardest part to do on any knife is the plunge cut, that is the transition from the ricasso to the bevel. It is very hard to get it clean and to get the top of it (the part closest to the spine) looking square and not washed out. Your blade is as good as it gets. I hope the other side is the same and you were able to get both sides even, if you have you should take up knife making as a job :wink:

How did you heat treat it?

[Kimall]

:oops: Wow Jindy thats a big wrap I think I just got a bit lucky on this one.As you suspected I did put up the pic with the best side :lol: so here is the other side and a b/head to give the size.I heated it to non magnetic and oil quenched it.It seems to be holding a real edge and as it is a smaller knife it is going to be only used for light work so should be pleanty strong enough as long as it is VERY sharp as this was my goal.
Thanks again for all the kind words.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/P1020647_edited.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/P1020648_edited.jpg

[Luke]

Kim what tools did you use to cut and shape it mate?

8)

[Kimall]

Luke I used an angle grinder to cut it out and a cheap 6 inch bench grinder to all the grinding and a sanding drum in my bench drill to do the rest.I need to sell something to be able to buy a linisher.
Cheers KIM

[Luke]

Cheers mate :D

I might have a go to... ya never know, I may well become the next Knife King :lol:

I heard of a bloke who's looking for a new pack... perhaps he's a start ;)

8)

[jindydiver]

Have you tempered it? Hardening it in oil is only half the job of making it a usefull knife. Without tempering the steel is in a brittle state (it is "hard" but not "tough") and tempering reduces the hardness and toughens the steel.
The steel in that file will be either O1, O2, or W1. You need to give it half an hour soaking in an oven at around 450 degrees F.Start at 400F and check the colour of the knife and it should be going golden, the darker the golden colour the tougher the knife, but once if goes dark brown to blue you need to check with a file to see if you need to harden it again. On a small knife with a thicker tip you can get away with keeping it harder and you can stop the tempering at a straw colour. Keep a close eye on it. You must temper it or the edge will be brittle and you won't be able to keep it sharp.

[Kimall]

Thanks Jindy yer thats the next step but I dont think my oven goes hot enough and am on the lookout for a toaster/griller to do the job.
Cheers KIM

[Timmsy]

Thanks Jindy yer thats the next step but I dont think my oven goes hot enough and am on the lookout for a toaster/griller to do the job.
Cheers KIM



Kimall
Try using a bbq bud :wink:



Cheers

[jindydiver]

Your kitchen oven can do it fine

350F = 176C
400F = 204C
425F = 218C
450F = 232C
Your oven should make 250C no worries

A BBQ can’t give you the fine accuracy you need, if you get it too hot you have to start all over again

[Grunter]

Darn you Kim :twisted: , i have just got back from dads with a bucket of old files. So i am now off up the shed to have a crack at this knife making caper.

[Kimall]

Thanks again Jindy I should have checked I thought they where closer than that. :oops: I will roast it tonight. :wink:
CheersKIM

[Luke]

Don't forget the rosmary and garlic mate - although it might be a bit chewy ;) :roll:

[Kimall]

Ta Grunter thats tops nice offer drop them around anytime.
Cheers KIM

[HOOD]

Top effort Kim. When do you start taking orders :lol:

[Grunter]

Kim, This knife building caper is not that much fun :evil: I thought i would get out the trusty angle grinder & whip a bit off here & a bit off there. Before i new it it looked nothing like what i set out as far as style that was in my head. I will post some pics in the morning if i get time before i go to airport. Once again thanks Jindy & Kim for posting some very helpfull tips.

[Paul R]

I'd love to give this a go too, once my other projects are finished that is. :D

My sons 8th birthday is in four months and it's special for a few reasons, one of them being that I've been promising him for a few years now that he will be allowed to shoot small game when he turns eight and I would like to give him something special from me to mark the occasion. A little knife made by the old man sounds like just the ticket.

I've got a whole heap of old files that my Gandpa gave me and may be able to get some old saw blades from my cousin who owned a saw mill, but where do I start?

Would someone be able to share simple step by step instructions on how to make a knife in the shed using common power tools and the hardening and temporing processes involved?

[Jimmy Alexander]

Ha ha ha eveyone is making knives. Nice job there Kim. I also made one, ill post some pics.

[Perry2007]

sorry if this has already been answered but i'm tired (alot of homework) and cant be botherd reading all the posts (sorry).
What is the handle made from?

[Kimall]

The handle is a piece of deer antler.
Cheers KIM

[Perry2007]

The handle is a piece of deer antler.
Cheers KIM
very nice

[Kimall]

Here Paul have a look at this link it might help.
Cheers KIM
http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/

[Paul R]

Thanks Kim. :D