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Does a tredle grinder count as a hand tool? It's powered by your feet and definitely a step back into history. You can build a more modern one with an old bicycle and a grinding stone. One big advantage of a tredle is that the motor automatically detects contact of flesh with the stone! :)
You can also take a grinding stone and shape it with chisels and files to a custom profile for hand use. Essentially it becomes sandpaper with a profiled shape.
You can also use files. There are some custom metal files that can do the work. I can't remember the maker, but they are French and cost a few hundred dollars (US) each.
I'd still go with a bench grinder first or an angle grinder and a bench vise second.
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Welcome to the forum!!! I can't add much here, but I must say this is a very ambitious first post! I am curious to see what the end result is so please post pics after.
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Another hand tool to consider is a "sen". Basically a scraping tool for work on metal. I don't have any pictures, but you should be able to find something on the net. Japanese razor makers used them to cut the hollow on the front side on a kamisori. I found a source googling "sen metal scraper"
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With great difficulty is the quick answer. As long as there is clearance between the bevel and spine it doesn't have to be hollowed, you could shape a kind of faux frameback. In fact you could just make a frameback.
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Look around for whet stones and sharpening wheels for the older manual grinding wheels. I see them pop up time to time in local classifieds.
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It's more so the money... although I have a pretty good balcony but not as useful as a garage, shed, or backyard so I'm still looking for what's suitable for my situation. That's life living in the city...
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A shaped charge of plastic explosives works well and can usually be made with harmless household chemicals.
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Deckard was on to something. Search out member "Spazola" here on the forum by a search. He has a tutorial on a frameback that he uses just a dremel IIRC. You will still have to get the blade heat treated, but that can be done by post/mail.
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After a while of research, I definitely will :) Thanks for the welcome!
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Do you mean a round file/ half round file?