Pics for the Knife Makers

Big Bull · #1 12-21-2010, 12:16 PM

A friend of mine makes his own knives and even forges his own blanks, folding the steel to get 24 layers. Here's a few pics of the forging process.

The set-up:

Adding the Borax:

Back into the forge:

Red hot!

Sparkin' her up on the anvil:

adaras · #2 12-21-2010, 12:33 PM

it is a great art to make knives you are traveling in a whole new world in the whole prosses

ccmckee · #3 12-21-2010, 01:03 PM

I had an uncle that took up knife making as a hobby when he retiredfrom GM. Some of the stuff he made was incredible.It is very cool to see something develop through the stages. He unfortunatley pased away before i could get one of his creations.Good on your buddy.

Albertadiver · #4 12-21-2010, 01:06 PM

TOOO Cool!

Rocks · #5 12-21-2010, 01:44 PM

Cool pictures. Maybe got some more of the rest of the process and some of his blanks and finished knives?

TheClash · #6 12-21-2010, 02:08 PM

does he sell his blanks? any idea what he would charge for them?

Private Ear · #7 12-21-2010, 02:09 PM

Yeah...What Rocks said. More pics.

I bought a forge last year and plan to try some creations of my own.

Rockymtnx · #8 12-21-2010, 02:44 PM

Neat pics Big Bull.
You will have to share a few more of the process for us.

Grizzly Adams · #9 12-21-2010, 02:49 PM

Judging by the forge, looks like your buddy read the 50 dollar Knife Shop.

What's with the tuque?
Grizz

209x50 · #10 12-21-2010, 04:30 PM

Very cool! This is something know nothing about. More pictures please.

Cowtown guy · #11 12-21-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private Ear

Yeah...What Rocks said. More pics.

I bought a forge last year and plan to try some creations of my own.

I'd love to hear what the cost for that would be. If you don't want the whole board knowing you could shoot me a PM if you don't mind.

shortaction · #12 12-21-2010, 07:22 PM

That has always intrigued me.

More Pics would be appreciated!

Private Ear · #13 12-22-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowtown guy

I'd love to hear what the cost for that would be. If you don't want the whole board knowing you could shoot me a PM if you don't mind.

It is a coal fired rivet forge that I found on Kijiji for $100.00. Not as nice as a gas fired but fun to use.

There is a fellow out in Cochrane (http://www.mysticforge.ca/) who holds weekend classes that I've heard are great.

Alberta Bigbore · #14 12-22-2010, 07:57 AM

Neat pics. I know nothing about Knife making... What is the borax for?

Albertadiver · #15 12-22-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

What is the borax for?

I believe it is part of the heat treating with the metal. Don't ask me what exactly it does though... I think to do with tempering? Strength?

Private Ear · #16 12-22-2010, 09:59 AM

The borax acts as a welding flux, cleaning and preventing oxygen from contaminating the weld.

#17 12-22-2010, 11:21 AM

Forge welding is a talent all unto itself.....I've done a ton of forge work over the years but still marvel at those that can create a lasting forge weld......

hayseed · #18 12-22-2010, 11:33 AM

That is very cool!!....would also love to see more pics..

Big Bull · #19 12-22-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocks

Cool pictures. Maybe got some more of the rest of the process and some of his blanks and finished knives?

I'll post some more pics of the forging. I don't have any pics of the blanks or finished product yet, but obviously I better get some soon to post on here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheClash

does he sell his blanks? any idea what he would charge for them?

Dan, I don't think he will be selling any of his products, based on the amount of time he has to put into them, but I'll ask him just to make sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Judging by the forge, looks like your buddy read the 50 dollar Knife Shop.

What's with the tuque?
Grizz

Grizz, the toque is to keep his head warm! He works outside for 10 hours a day, so I guess he just never bothered to take it off. He sure heated up the shop in a big hurry, though. He did say he got the forge plans off the net, and that he spent about $120 on supplies to build the forge and air activated bottle jack press(pics to follow).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

Neat pics. I know nothing about Knife making... What is the borax for?

Answered by Private Ear below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Private Ear

The borax acts as a welding flux, cleaning and preventing oxygen from contaminating the weld.

You are correct sir! Welder?

Big Bull · #20 12-22-2010, 12:04 PM

Some more pics.
The setup:

Air activated bottle jack press:

The forge with the creator in the back ground:

Going into the press:

That's about all I have of the process at the moment, but I'll get some pics of the blanks and finished products when I can.

In the press:

walking buffalo · #21 12-22-2010, 12:50 PM

Big Bull,

Thanks! Looking forward to some more pics. I've done some bronze casting and forge work. This thread makes me want to do more.

TheClash · #22 12-22-2010, 01:25 PM

thanks big bull, would love be able to get some local blanks...but then i would have to learn how to grind out a blade lol...

you bought one of mine didn't you?? how is it??

Big Bull · #23 12-22-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheClash

thanks big bull, would love be able to get some local blanks...but then i would have to learn how to grind out a blade lol...

you bought one of mine didn't you?? how is it??

Nope. Wasn't me.

TheClash · #24 12-22-2010, 02:43 PM

haha, my bad...oh well.

Boatbuilder · #25 12-22-2010, 05:29 PM

Looks like he is making some damascus for knife blades. We have a T.N.K.N at my place every thursday night. We make our own damascus as well. We have guys that have never worked with steel come out and build there own knife. It is a lot of fun. We do everything on our own to build knives. From making our own steel to stabilizing our own wood for handles to leather sheaths. If anyone is interested in coming out and building there own knife, give me a pm.

Jim

Frans · #26 12-22-2010, 07:20 PM

That's cool! I've made the odd knife, but started from milled steel. Still had to do the hardening, in a charcoal BBQ, with some fire bricks and a hair dryer to get the coals to really glow. :-)

Looking forward to see some pics of the subsequent steps.

#27 12-22-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frans

That's cool! I've made the odd knife, but started from milled steel. Still had to do the hardening, in a charcoal BBQ, with some fire bricks and a hair dryer to get the coals to really glow. :-)

Looking forward to see some pics of the subsequent steps.

You could just come down the road and use my forge....lol...bring beer of course!

BrownBear416 · #28 12-22-2010, 10:56 PM

Great pics Gord and keep them coming..

I did not know anything about folded steel till i was interested in buying a folded kantana sword..

Amazing process..

A dozen folds creates over 5000 individual layers per one centimeter of steel..

lilsundance · #29 12-22-2010, 11:04 PM

awesome pics Gord. I've always been interested in this kind of thing, but never had time to do any of it.

Big Bull · #30 01-17-2011, 03:16 AM

Here are some pics of a few of the knives that Mike has made. The blank that he was working on in the above pictures ended up having a hairline fracture in it and is basically unusable.