Starting the process
Hello all! Let me begin by saying that this is not an original idea, many have done this before…this is just my attempt of it that I have been tossing around in my head for quite a long time now…
I've researched online, and I was looking for a way to do this without a forge involved…my friend has one, but I believe that I can shape the knives without losing the temper if I'm careful not to let the metal get too hot.
I started with some vintage files/rasps that I have come across as a "picker"...
Each was about 10 1/4" long before I cut off the tails. I used a hand held grinder, and while this did generate a bit of heat, I kept a bucket of water nearby to dip it in as soon as they were cut.
I had several stones for my grinding wheel (the ones that would work better didn't fit the shaft, but I work with what I find at the yard/estate sales that I go to…)
I used this to grind down the grooves on the files.
I didn't go all the way down yet…but I do want to leave quite a bit of where the marks are…I think it adds character. The look I'm going for is rugged and rough, down and dirty…the kind of knife you would use hunting or camping.
Then I marked out where I wanted the holes for the handle and the general shape of the blade.
Then I pulled out some scrap brass rods that used to be….well…whatever they used to be. I sawed off the threaded end (this was important for determining the size bit I would use…it threaded onto the 1/8" sized hole, but by the time it got to smooth rod, it was loose…tutns out it is actually 7/64").
Then came the fun part (not)...I purchased some cobalt bits with the theory that they would work pretty decently…tried them with my cordless…not even a scuff…(I did divot before attempting to drill…)....I will attempt again on the drill press, but I think I will have to take the temper off the handle portion with a blow torch…the handle doesn't need to be tempered anyway…
I'll post more to this project as I move along….
Hello all! Let me begin by saying that this is not an original idea, many have done this before…this is just my attempt of it that I have been tossing around in my head for quite a long time now…
I've researched online, and I was looking for a way to do this without a forge involved…my friend has one, but I believe that I can shape the knives without losing the temper if I'm careful not to let the metal get too hot.
I started with some vintage files/rasps that I have come across as a "picker"...
Each was about 10 1/4" long before I cut off the tails. I used a hand held grinder, and while this did generate a bit of heat, I kept a bucket of water nearby to dip it in as soon as they were cut.
I had several stones for my grinding wheel (the ones that would work better didn't fit the shaft, but I work with what I find at the yard/estate sales that I go to…)
I used this to grind down the grooves on the files.
I didn't go all the way down yet…but I do want to leave quite a bit of where the marks are…I think it adds character. The look I'm going for is rugged and rough, down and dirty…the kind of knife you would use hunting or camping.
Then I marked out where I wanted the holes for the handle and the general shape of the blade.
Then I pulled out some scrap brass rods that used to be….well…whatever they used to be. I sawed off the threaded end (this was important for determining the size bit I would use…it threaded onto the 1/8" sized hole, but by the time it got to smooth rod, it was loose…tutns out it is actually 7/64").
Then came the fun part (not)...I purchased some cobalt bits with the theory that they would work pretty decently…tried them with my cordless…not even a scuff…(I did divot before attempting to drill…)....I will attempt again on the drill press, but I think I will have to take the temper off the handle portion with a blow torch…the handle doesn't need to be tempered anyway…
I'll post more to this project as I move along….