Attention Knife makers

[WaG35]

I am hoping to hear from the knife makers in the group on this one. i have decided that I would like to make a couple of knives to use in my leather working. A head knife and maybe a couple of smaller trim type knives. i am not looking to get into this to make money, I just like to do stuff for myself. My first question is on stock thickness. Would 3/32 be suitable for say a 3" head knife? Also what kind of an edge would be suitable, a chisel grind or a flat grind? I was thinking around 20 degrees for the edge, and see how that works. I am not doing this because it is cheaper, because I am sure by the time I get a usable knife, I could have bought a couple of knives. But I couldn't say that I did it myself. I am planning on using ATS-34 or 440C, primarily because that is what I have found that comes in big enough pieces that I can do a 3" knife with a full tang. Actually for about $30 I can get a piece big enough to do 2 or 3 blanks that hopefully will yield at least 1 usable knife. I plan on doing the grinding myself and sending them off to be heat treated. Texas Knife will heat treat for $5.50 a blade, for that price, it is worth it to have it done right. Besides the fact that I don't have any of the equipment or knowledge to do it. I took a metalurgy class in college but that was about 15 years ago. I hope I am not stepping on any toes by asking these questions, and I guess I will know if I don't get any responses, but the knife making crowd seems to be pretty helpful and willing to share info. There just isn't a lot of info for making these types of knives. Thanks- Tony

[patricweill]

I would not recommend using stainless steel as you will have more problem keeping your blade sharp and honing to the level you want for a head knife; I think you should use carbon steel for cutting tools with maybe .65 to .85C be carefull of the heat tratment which is very very important

20 ° seems to be too thick you will want a full grind at least at the beginning.

I think more knowledgeable guys will answer you with more precision

good luck and post pictures

Patrick

[ferret]

Hi Tony. If you go to the pslac website and download july 96 rawhide gazette there's an article on making head knives from old cirular saw blades. I tried it and it works. Can't tell you what the best angle is, I just guessed and got lucky, I tempered the edge with a blowlamp and that seems to work, it holds an edge well and I can skive 1oz goat with it. think it cost me around £1 ($1.40) and a days work.

Edited January 21, 2009 by ferret

[Rayban]

As for thickness, why not see what current production knives are?

[moon]

The only thing that I would add is I think the flat grind would be best for what you are wanting to do.

[jman]

I do leatherwork and have made a few knives. Personally I will stay away from stainless an go with carbon steel like O-1 or 5160. A flat grind gives me more knife control when using it

[electrathon]

I have made a few round knives. I made them out of old hand saw blades. They are thin, varring on what you find. Very good steel usually. If you are carefull when you cut them out you will not hurt the temper and will not need to reharden them. If the blase is thin enough, you will not need to worry about what way to grind them, just sharpen the edge and you are done.

[WaG35]

Thanks for the repplies, I agree that carbon would probably be better, but I haven't been able to find anyone that sell cabon steel in pieces big enough of thin enough for what I want.

[Blake]

Thanks for the repplies, I agree that carbon would probably be better, but I haven't been able to find anyone that sell cabon steel in pieces big enough of thin enough for what I want.

try Sheffield Steel in DeLand Florida. Knife making supplies.

Blake

[ct701996]

I made a head Knife out of an old cross cut saw blade it seems to hold and edge very good. IT was extremely hard to drill the holes in the handle though.