Custom Knife Making

[GREAT THIEF]

So I'm getting into making my own knives and I would normally ask a friend of mine that is a pro knife maker but he is unavailable at the moment so I was seeing if any of you might know what I would need to start. I know im going to get a dre***, drill bits and stuff, the kit obviously until i start forging my own steel, and clamps or vice.

Also I was wondering can you put a switch blade spring on any knife? And what torque do you prefer?

[numerator-91]

ive made a few blades but they've all been fixed position full tang handles. i reccomend using stainless steel and start with small simple blades. but then again who am i to lecture on this i really have no idea when i make a knife, just follow procedure handed down by big brother.

[crazyassmetalhead]

i've been seeing a lot of kits on ebay, with just the metal part with screw holes so you can add your own handle, not really making your own knife from scratch but making just a kickass custom handle seems easier than starting entirely from scratch.

[GREAT THIEF]

I've started making something now from a pre-made household knife lol. Got a handle in the making. Hardened the blade even more and Shapenend it up and filed down sides.

[eritas]

so
ive been learning to weld so i have access to a metal shop and metal
i am planning on making a knife or two and was wondering if anybody who has done so before could advise me on what metal to use and how to harden it
thanks

[numerator-91]

the type of metal depends on what style of blade you want to make and what use if any it will be put to. as for hardening you'll need a gas or coal furnace, i'm not even going to begin telling you what i did for mine. lets just say i'm lucky to be alive

[eritas]

could i use an oxy acetalyne torch for the hardening
and also i need a metal that is durable and can be sharpened really sharp
do i need to heat it and then cool it rapidly in a thing of water or do i heat it and hammer it out?
a combination?

[GREAT THIEF]

Heat it for about an half hour then put it in oil to harden it. Then let it sit overnight.

[numerator-91]

when the steel is heated it needs to be heated to the point that it is demagnetised then when you dip it in the oil it 'sucks up' all the carbon into the steel making it harder and more brittles

[Ninjaofdeth]

could i use an oxy acetalyne torch for the hardening
and also i need a metal that is durable and can be sharpened really sharp
do i need to heat it and then cool it rapidly in a thing of water or do i heat it and hammer it out?
a combination?

hardcase it mah brothah. hahaha

you need a metal that is durable and can be sharpened really sharp eh? looks to me like the metal you need is.....ceramic....zirconium oxide. wicked fucking sharp, wicked fucking long lasting edge.

have fun with that though....

as long as i'm on the topic of ceramic knives....would anyone recommend using a Kyocera ceramic kitchen blade as a tactical knife/utility knife? or would that just be dumb? i dont really see why it wouldnt be a good idea, but i could be overlooking something

edit - would a kyocera kitchen knife be to...brittle?.. for a utility knife? pretty zirconium oxide is like fucking sharp tho. idk, someone with knowledge'll have to answer that 4 me

[numerator-91]

blades are a compromise, the harder it is the sharper you can make it because it will hold an edge but also becomes more brittle. the softer the blade is the more shock it can absorb but won't really hold an edge and requires frequent sharpening. to answer your question, i wouldn't use the Kyocera ceramic kitchen blade as a tactical knife, hell i wouldn't use any kitchen knife as a tactical knife.
what would you be using your knife for anyway?

[Veddek]

A HUGE list of knifemaking stuff.

http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/old.htm

Finishes, forging, grinding, whatever.

:)

[FireTech93]

A HUGE list of knifemaking stuff.

http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/old.htm

Finishes, forging, grinding, whatever.

:)

dear god are you serious...