Making Carving Knives

[bcarvings]

Hi,
I really want to make my own carving knives because 1 I enjoy it, and 2 I can save some money.
I have a delta grinder with two grinding stones on it, and a strop. Can you make a knife using just a grinding wheel, and then just sharpen it? Also what is all this rockwell hardness stuff, how can I make it 63 rockwell hardness? Or 59 rockwell hardess? Do I have to use a dangerous tool like a torch or something? Any good books on this? Thank you

Go to littleshavers.com he has instructions on making a razor knife and also a sharpening article.

You can make a decent carving knife from an old hacksaw blade (do not use a cheap blade made in China!!!!)

Put the hacksaw blade in a vise and give it a quick snap (you want a piece about 4 inches long)

Take a pencil and draw a line from end to end down the center. And at one end draw a curved line for the knife blade (you can only get about a 1 1/2 inch blade out of a hacksaw blade - too flexible if longer).

Can a can of water or motor oil, set it next to your grinder and slowly grind (very light touch to the stone) the metal down to your line (hopefully you are grinding away the cutting teeth of the saw blade), dip it in water or oil after each pass to cool the steel (you do not want the steel to get hot and turn black, this takes the temper out of the steel!). take you time and lightly grind a pass across the blade, dip it and grind again. Keep going until you're down to the line and have the blade shaped.

Now carefully and with an even lighter touch, slowly start shaping the bevel. You don't want to make it sharp, only get the bevel started, dip frequently, if you get the steel black from heat, you've ruined it and will have to start over!

If you were careful and not over heated the steel, you're blade is ready to mount. Get a piece of 1x3x5 inch piece of oak or other hardwood (size may vary as it's your choice as to handle design) and cut it lengthwise so you have to halves 1/2x3x5. Put 3-4 drops of wood glue down the center and join the 2 halves back together, draw the shape of you handle on one side, cut it out on a bandsaw or scroll saw, give it a twist to seperate the 2 havles, and immediately rub the insides down with a wet rag (water) to remove the glue.

Lay you blade on the cut side of one half of your handle, draw around it with a pencil and chisel it out so the blade fits slightly below the edge. Mix some epoxy and spread it over the handle and inside the the hollow where the blade goes, insert the blade, cover that with epoxy, put the other half of the handle on and clamp it, let it sit at least 24 hours!

File and sand the handle smooth and get it how you want it and give it at least one coat of varnish (tape a piece of string to the blade to hang it up while the varnish dries). Now you can add additional coats of varnish if you like or take it the the stones and start working the bevel on a coarse wet stone. Get it even on both sides with a good edge. Touch it up on a fine wet stone, then a hard oil stone, and then strop it. It will take awhile to get it good and sharp, but you'll have a good carving knife made with good high carbon steel you made yourself.

I have made knives from high speed steel, hack saw blades and razor blades. It is a little satisfying, but they are never as good as something that you can buy. Although cheaper, it just takes too much time......time that I could use carving instead.

If you want to save money, I recommend that you just buy one - once you consider your time, it really isn't saving you anything. If you want to make knives for the sake of making one yourself, I suggest that you do a little research first. Time spent planning and preparing is well spent.

[quote author=Mitchell link=board=Beginner;num=1100827842;start=0#3 date=11/19/04 at 23:10:20]I have made knives from high speed steel, hack saw blades and razor blades. *It is a little satisfying, but they are never as good as something that you can buy. *Although cheaper, it just takes too much time......time that I could use carving instead. *If you want to save money, I recommend that you just buy one - once you consider your time, it really isn't saving you anything.[/quote]

I really have to disagree with you Mitchell. To buy a handmade detailing knife (Dunkle, Wells, Ferguson, etc.) would cost $25-$40 while I easily made my own in just a couple hours and, as I have said in other threads, it works just as well as my 'store bought' knives. It also gives me the GREAT satisfaction of knowing that I can make a good quality carving knife with my own hands. While some of us have more money than time, others have more time than money. I, unfortunately, am one of the second.

If you want to make knives for the sake of making one yourself, I suggest that you do a little research first. *Time spent planning and preparing is well spent.

This I can heartily agree with. Use your favorite search engine to find out all you can about making blades before you start grinding or trying to forge one. Randy's post is a good overview to get you started as is Ricks page at Little Shavers.

bcarvings wrote:

Also what is all this rockwell hardness stuff, how can I make it 63 rockwell hardness? Or 59 rockwell hardess? Do I have to use a dangerous tool like a torch or something? Any good books on this?

Rockwell is a test that gives a number to represent the hardness of a material. To get a true Rockwell measurement you need a testing device but if you know your steel type and the range of temps for heat treatment you can get 'close enough' with basic tools.

Yes, you would need a 'dangerous tool such as a torch' *chuckling at this statement from someone who is using razor sharp tools as a hobby *
There are a number of books and online resources that cover forging and heat treating high carbon steel for knives and tools.

[bcarvings]

Hi,
Thanks for all your help. I might make my own knife. I really want to as long as I can! What I mean to say is what is I can't get the knife sharp? I have a pocket knife, and I can't get it as sharp as I want. If I can even sharpen a pocket knife, how can I make one! Also I don't have a lot of money to spend on knives. Thanks for all your help. Also if anyone hear can send me a picture of a knife you made it would encourage me. Thanks

[bcarvings]

Hi,
My pocket knife is a lot thicker than my x-acto knife. The x-acto feels as sharp as the pocket knife when I press them against my skin. My pocket knife as take off small peices of wood without barely any effort, but larger chunks are immposible, where as the x-acto knife carves both big and small. The woodcarving club guys said the knife is sharp but I know it can get sharper!

Guaranteed, a good pocket knife can be sharpened to make a factory sharpened xacto look like a rock (well, almost).

[bcarvings]

Hi,
I know the x-actos are mass produced by factorties, but they are VERY sharp. I have NEVER used a carved knife sharper than x-acto. Is that pathetic?

No, not pathetic. It's just that you haven't yet learned how to sharpen a knife to be used for carving. Remember, many of the people you are talking to on this board have been at it for 40 or 50, and in some cases more, years. Stick with it and you to will learn. It takes a bit of time to get the bevel on a pocket knife where you need it. The factory bevel is not intended for carving, much too steep.