Anyone into knife-making?

I've been considering this as a hobby for a while now, looks like fun. Just a big investment on tools up front just to get started. Probably looking at $300-$500 just to play around.

 

http://m.woodcraft.com/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53b29kY3JhZnQuY29tL1Byb2R1Y3QvMjAyMDQ0OC8yMjM5Mi9UYW50by1TdHlsZS1LbmlmZS1LaXQuYXNweA%3D%3D half a knife if you wanted to try somewhat of a test run before jumping in.

 

Ill post pics later but i made a knife out of a file

 

So that's basically add grips, sharpen and done?

 

Yeah looks that way kinda a half step into the process I think there are kits that have everything they just leave the shaping up to you.

 

Grinding is the hard part, heat treating the next hardest. Those kit blades are 60% done, the other 40% can be as hard or easy as you choose.

 

You can also use a lawnmower blade. Then do the handle out of P-cord.

 

http://hocktools.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/diy-heat-treatment-of-tool-steel/

A charcoal bbq grill and an air supply can let you have some low cost heat treat fun.

Or buy about 20 fire bricks, stack them and prop a torch head in it.

 

I've seen beautiful knives done by first timers using only basic handle tools like hacksaws and files they already had. I started with a $30 Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander and a $20 grinder. You'll need $20 for belts, and you can buy qyality knife steel for as little as $10.

You can easily buy new electric equipment, materials and everything you'll need from start to finish for $100. It has everything to do with patience and attention to detail and little to do with equipment.

 

knifekits.com has some pretty cool stuff ranging from put together kits to all the materials you'll ever need to create your own. I've bought several times from them and never had any issues.

 

This one i made from an old skillsaw blade, the handle is from a deer antler, it is made to skin animals.

 

This one i made from an old file, i still have to make a handle for it.


They are both my first experience at knife making, i only used an angle grinder, sand paper and patience lol

 

Rad. Liking that stag handled ulu.

 

Thanks! I followed swibo advices to make it, its this actual video that got me into knife making:
http://youtu.be/4-yRyD3qkjc

 

I've wondered about this exact thing before...
Still haven't tried it though.

 

The steel in lawn mower blades isn't ideal for knife making. For $10 you can buy proper steel, or you can use an old file you have in the garage or you find at a flea market for 50 cents. Check out NJ Steel Baron

Mower blades are generally of unknown steel and tend to be soft (so when they hit a rock they bend, not shatter). They're fine for projects and learning but lack good blade characteristics.

 

Tbh most of the "you can use..." Advice turns out something closer to a prison shank than a quality knife nothing wrong with the hobby, being cheap can be fun.

The cheapest route would be buy a good blank and learning scales and pins. You can turn out some pretty nice pieces with that route and a $20 hf belt sander. Steel work, thats where money comes in and skill really comes out.

 

honestly you don't need near that much to dabble in knife making, a couple good files and a vise or clamp that you can use to clamp your work piece to is all you really need, that and a couple sharpneing stones or fine sand paper for final sharpening. it may take a while with the files, but its all you really need