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Knife Making ?

dav1965
Can you make a knife out of a lawn mower blade or a skill saw blade?

If so how?

I am thinking about what would happen if i removed stock from a lawnmower blade or a skill saw blade.

I am looking for something to help pass the time by.

Also where would you buy knife parts and stuff.
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Comments

20 comments

Date Votes
  • RobOz
    Yes, you can do it with a buzzard file and a lot of time.
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  • mrmike08075
    Short answer is yes but the type and purity of the steel is important

    Car and truck leaf spring use is common.

    Tons of YouTube fair and one great TV series to get you started.

    I have knives made from old saw blades and files.

    Mike
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  • mrmike08075
    Smkw and Atlanta cutlery - try the blade magazine website and forums

    Many dedicated suppliers and websites and catalogs

    Jantz???

    Mike
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  • Gregor62
    My favorite supplier is Jantz, but I also buy from several others. A google search of knife making supplies will get you rolling.

    I also have some custom colored and stabilized scale material (burls and spalted wood) I have thought about putting on the auction side.

    I usually make around 6-8 knives during the winter months.
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  • hillbille
    I use an angle grinder and an old push mower blade to make machettes for the 4-wheeler, no big loss if it is stolen off the bike, and is heavy enough to chop through wrist/thigh size logs that may fall in the trail
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    ...I know a monkey that forges his own lawn mower blades,to make knives out of,,[;)][;)]
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  • hillbille
    quote:Originally posted by montanajoe
    ...I know a monkey that forges his own lawn mower blades,to make knives out of,,[;)][;)]


    is he the one stuck in the year 1911??????????
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  • mnrivrat48
    eBay also has an abundance of knife making supplies.

    The quality of the knife depends on the steel and on the workmanship.

    I have heard skill saw type steel can make a good knife material. You can make a knife out of a file but they would at the minimum require a re-tempering of the metal as they are way to hard and brittle as they are.
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  • jimdeere
    quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
    Short answer is yes but the type and purity of the steel is important

    Car and truck leaf spring use is common.



    Mike

    I have heard about using car springs. How do they get reduced to a usable thickness? Doesn?t grinding remove the temper?
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  • mrmike08075
    https://youtu.be/wDdc3Mf6B5Y

    This will get you started on the truck and care leaf spring sword making rabbit hole...

    I like this guy's channel and videos and work.

    Most of my knowledge is from reading or watching (S.M. Stirling spends a lot of time / fills a lot of pages up on this)

    I have been getting ripped on by trolls lately for offering my opinion on subjects they claim I am not an "expert" on so I will leave it to our members with real world hands on experience

    But I do appreciate that you asked for my input

    Mike
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  • iceracerx
    When I was a kid we used the sidewalk and Popsicle sticks to make knives. Later, I used my Boy Scout pocket knife to whittle a 'camp' knife and spork out of Maple.

    The last time you asked about making knives, I suggested you take a metallurgy class. Just a reminder.

    The quick answer to your question is YES. The long answer is that you can 'make' a knife out of just about anything, but that then begs the question, will it hold an edge?
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  • dav1965
    I know some metals but my information ii have is for welding not making knives.

    I tried to find a college near me that offered knife making but i have yet to find one.

    I have an old friend that builds metal fencing and artwork he just retired so i guess i will find his number.
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  • 84Bravo1
    My Cousin, (who made the Gunnut505 knife shown by Shilowar,) used SS Sawmill blades in his builds. These were sawmill blades too far gone to be sharpened. If you have a Sawmill any where near you, I'd inquire. Superior materials, make superior projects.
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  • guntech59
    quote:Originally posted by jimdeere
    quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
    Short answer is yes but the type and purity of the steel is important

    Car and truck leaf spring use is common.



    Mike

    I have heard about using car springs. How do they get reduced to a usable thickness? Doesn?t grinding remove the temper?


    Most people doing 'stock removal' to make knives use belt sanders.

    The coarser the grit, the less heat is generated. You still need to keep the blade reasonably cool though.

    To harden most steels the temp need to get up to + or - 1475 F then quenched. Once fully cooled, it is tempered...usually around 400 F for an hour or two ?.maybe a couple of cycles. This is all very general stuff. It really depends what steel you are using.

    Bottom line....keep it below 400 F and the temper should not be ruined. If you turn it blue...the temper is ruined.
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  • mrmike08075
    Just pulled out my jantz catalog and some old issues of blade...

    Good stuff.

    Mike
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  • mrmike08075
    Bump / btt

    Mike
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  • guntech59
    I have never bought anything from this site but, they have a good reputation. It seems they have everything needed to be a knife maker.

    Also, as Mike said, you tube is a great starting place. Check out these channels.

    https://usaknifemaker.com/shop-categories/handle-hardware.html

    https://usaknifemaker.com/shop-categories/handle-material-hardware.html

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkLxJCuQZ4hStBfs8TCnT9Q

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUC_LrU2GpyOvUXAk_wrhbQ

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM1Bnpxipb8H4GJoITnJ0XQ

    https://www.youtube.com/user/alectheblacksmith

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSzVcnVuH0lVzyZh7HPsTA
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  • mrmike08075
    Once more unto the breech...

    Mike
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  • Cornflk1
    Thanks GunTech for the links.
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  • mrmike08075
    Friday night bump

    Mike
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