First steps - forging knives

[General Zod]

Mine is very crude, and was a learning tool. If we build you one, it will be ten times better than mine!

The crude one is ten times better than a 4x36 like I've got, my friend. I'm making do, but...yeah, I need better options.

 

[Axxe55]

The crude one is ten times better than a 4x36 like I've got, my friend. I'm making do, but...yeah, I need better options.

Totally understand. When I first started looking at production 2x72 grinders, the cheapest ones were still over $1000. Way out of my budget! I might have maybe $150 in mine, but, I got a used motor from my father, I had some scrap steel laying around, and I did order the wheel kit.

 

[jrbfishn]

I do much of my grinding on a 4x21 hand held sander. I also use a 1x42 sander. But I also used them for many years as a cabinet maker so I have lots of experience making do with them.
More than one way to skin a cat. Improvise.
I have a 4x36 I rarely use. Even more rarely as it was intended to be.

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[Axxe55]

I do much of my grinding on a 4x21 hand held sander. I also use a 1x42 sander. But I also used them for many years as a cabinet maker so I have lots of experience making do with them.
More than one way to skin a cat. Improvise.
I have a 4x36 I rarely use. Even more rarely as it was intended to be.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

I almost bought a 4x36 from Harbor Freight, then looked at how cheaply they were made and the reviews about them, so I was less than impressed, and decided to build my own 2x72 grinder instead. I didn't spend much more than what the HF 4x36 would have cost, but I think my home-built grinder will last way longer.

 

[General Zod]

OK, so I've figured out how to make my belt grinder more conducive to good bevels, and both knives are looking a LOT better. Sorry, no pictures tonight because I was caught up in what I was doing. Basically, I bought a 1/4" thick piece of 4" wide mild steel, cut it about 3 1/2" long, rounded all the corners with a flap wheel, and I've got it sitting on top of the platen for my grinder, held in place by a pair of neodymium magnets. This raises the belt up off the platen and gives me a solid edge to grind my plunge line on, and gives me a small area of slack belt I can use as well. Those magnets hold the steel plate solidly, and I did a LOT of clean-up and re-beveling on the knives tonight. Very rewarding.

Heat treating...didn't happen. Yet. I figured out how to get a consistent 1500° temperature in the forge and heated a piece of mild steel to test it (and apparently at 1500°, mild steel gets droopy...who knew?), but I realized that I needed to drill holes for the handle pins in case one of these knives survives the torture testing and...I don't have a 3/16" drill bit that isn't dull.

Dammit.

So, I'll make my first quench/tempering attempt probably tomorrow night. Torture testing to follow.

 

[Tblack89]

OK, so I've figured out how to make my belt grinder more conducive to good bevels, and both knives are looking a LOT better. Sorry, no pictures tonight because I was caught up in what I was doing. Basically, I bought a 1/4" thick piece of 4" wide mild steel, cut it about 3 1/2" long, rounded all the corners with a flap wheel, and I've got it sitting on top of the platen for my grinder, held in place by a pair of neodymium magnets. This raises the belt up off the platen and gives me a solid edge to grind my plunge line on, and gives me a small area of slack belt I can use as well. Those magnets hold the steel plate solidly, and I did a LOT of clean-up and re-beveling on the knives tonight. Very rewarding.

Heat treating...didn't happen. Yet. I figured out how to get a consistent 1500° temperature in the forge and heated a piece of mild steel to test it (and apparently at 1500°, mild steel gets droopy...who knew?), but I realized that I needed to drill holes for the handle pins in case one of these knives survives the torture testing and...I don't have a 3/16" drill bit that isn't dull.

Dammit.

So, I'll make my first quench/tempering attempt probably tomorrow night. Torture testing to follow.

Sounds like you’re figuring out the method to your madness, that’s usually the beginning to a quality product in my experiences.

 

[General Zod]

Sounds like you’re figuring out the method to your madness, that’s usually the beginning to a quality product in my experiences.

Don't worry, there's also madness to my methods. That makes it fun.

 

[Tblack89]

Don't worry, there's also madness to my methods. That makes it fun.

I can appreciate that statement more than you know.

 

[General Zod]

I can appreciate that statement more than you know.

The tagline on my Etsy page is "All by hand, mostly on purpose".

 

[no2gates]

The tagline on my Etsy page is "All by hand, mostly on purpose".

Can you post a link to your etsy page?

EDIT: Nevermind, found it. CoyoteFallsForge

 

[General Zod]

Can you post a link to your etsy page?

EDIT: Nevermind, found it. CoyoteFallsForge

I'm shy about linking because I'm not a forum sponsor - I don't want to take advantage of the site but I can't afford to sponsor and promote myself with a clear conscience.

 

[jrbfishn]

I almost bought a 4x36 from Harbor Freight, then looked at how cheaply they were made and the reviews about them, so I was less than impressed, and decided to build my own 2x72 grinder instead. I didn't spend much more than what the HF 4x36 would have cost, but I think my home-built grinder will last way longer.

Probably. But for what I use it for, it works great.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

 

[jrbfishn]

Don't worry, there's also madness to my methods. That makes it fun.

Most of you would shit watching me use tools. OSHA would have a hemorage watching me.
No router table. I free hand or on small stuff I turn the router upside down, hold it in one hand and route the wood with the other. That type stuff.
Yup. I have scars.

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[glenbo]

When you get to production, be sure to PM me. I love knives and have many more than I need, but I'm always up for buying another, especially something hand made. And don't be shy about asking enough for your parts and labor. Your creativity is another cost to be figured in.

 

[Axxe55]

Most of you would shit watching me use tools. OSHA would have a hemorage watching me.
No router table. I free hand or on small stuff I turn the router upside down, hold it in one hand and route the wood with the other. That type stuff.
Yup. I have scars.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

If OSHA walked into my garage, they would shut down all my equipment!

Yep, I got some scars too! But the chicks dig tattoos and scars!

 

[Axxe55]

Probably. But for what I use it for, it works great.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

Nothing wrong with that. I have seen some excellent knives made with just some very basic and rudimentary tools. A lot is what you set your mind to do and accomplish.

At some point, I would like to have a 4x36 grinder, but it won't be a Harbor Freight one!

 

[jrbfishn]

Don't blame you.

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[Axxe55]

A shout out to @General Zod! Y'all subscribe to his channel and support him.

 

[oldag]

Haven't done in knifemaking in probably four decades. Might be a retirement project, though.

 

[Axxe55]

Haven't done in knifemaking in probably four decades. Might be a retirement project, though.

Go for it!

I'll even offer advice, good or bad!