Blade No 2

[Adam Savage]

After the relative success of my knife from a file, I decided it was time for blade number 2. This time I am using 4mm x 30mm hot rolled flat stock, purchased from B&Q for the princely sum of five pounds and 16 pennies :).

I am making a video log of all stages, which will be compiled into a short video. The first stage of cutting to length, roughing out shape and basic bevel, has now been completed. Next stage is to put a 20-24 degree, finished bevel edge, onto the blank.

The stage after that will be to drill the pin holes for the scales, then harden the blade before tempering. Once these things have been done, it will be time to polish the metalwork and add some woodwork.

The steel and template blade...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011770.jpg

Cut to length, ready for shaping...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011771.jpg

Rough shaping...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011772.jpg

Rough bevel...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011773.jpg

It sure cuts out a lot of prep using flat stock lol.

[Adam Savage]

Most of the bevel completed now, holes drilled for pins. Battery died on camcorder as I was doing these two, so there won't be any footage of that in the video, mind you it wasn't that exciting lol. Used a pillar drill stand, with Hitachi drill mounted in it, for the holes (obviously) and trusty 76mm belt sander for the bevel (done by eye, as I have yet to construct my jig).

A photo from after these steps...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011776.jpg

I think it's looking pretty good so far, but I am bias...:p

[CanadianMike]

Cool. What kind of steel is it though, something tells me it's mild............

[Adam Savage]

I think you're probably correct, but can't be 100%. All the info I could get on it was "FFA Concept Varnished Hot Rolled Steel Flat (L)1000mm x (W)30mm x (T)4mm". As I'm in the learning stages of all this knife making, I just wanted to try get some practice in.

[Adam Savage]

Talking of practice, I also decided to try some file work too :). Will see how it turns out on completion...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011777.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/17062011779.jpg

[luresalive]

For your second knife that is amazing, well done.

[RobbC]

Fantastic work there Adam.....again:D

Robb

[Adam Savage]

Thanks guys. It'll be a shame if it is mild steel. I was kinda hoping to use it regularly (as number 1 is in a box for posterity now lol).

[Martin]

It'll be mild for sure Adam. It came covered in black/grey paint didn't it?

Martin

[Adam Savage]

It'll be mild for sure Adam. It came covered in black/grey paint didn't it?

Martin

It came in a brownish varnish, bare, cut ends. The cuts where made by guillotine rather than saw.

[Adam Savage]

Gave up with the video part of this blade, seeing as it's only mild steel (99.99% sure anyway) and won't keep an edge. I did, however, try to use an old case hardening technique I found on t'interweb. Wrapping the blade in leather, coating the lot in clay to seal it, then heat for 15 minutes so the leather is consumed. Didn't have too much clay laying about, but my garden is clay rich, so used a load of clay like earth instead :). This is what she looked like, after the firing, quenching and then cleaned up a little (last shot)...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011780.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011781.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011782.jpg

Not sure it did any good at all, but finished her off anyway.

Ready to take the scales...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011783.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011784.jpg

Epoxy setting...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011785.jpg

And the finished kinfe...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011787.jpg

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011788.jpg

With my first attempt at file work...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011786.jpg

And next to her older sister...

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/crazysaint22/projects%20and%20equipment/18062011789.jpg

[CanadianMike]

Awesome number two! Even if mild steel, you've learned quite a few lessons, which is what it's all about. Now go for a third, fourth, fifth, etc. And mild steel for practice, much better to make your mistakes on that than more expensive tool steel.

[Adam Savage]

Thanks Mike. There will be many more, I'm sure lol.

Was going to ask, I have come across EN19 steel and was wondering if that would be any good for knife making? It's meant to have high wear resistance, but I'm not sure if it's a medium carbon or high carbon.