Thread: diy blade?

Randy said it "that's it"...

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

"Knifemakers don't make mistakes--they make smaller knives."
Josh

Wow! That guy was really smart....I have lots of small knives and razors!

thanks for all the advice. now i know i should use 1095 or something close, but (this is another noob question) could u use old files as the metal? its a good hard steel, its already hardened and tempered, so theoredically (im my mind atleast, im probably wrong) it could work. has anyone ever tried doing that?

Lots of people have used old files for knives and razors, it works just fine but...they are so hard that they need to be annealed first. Be sure to use a file that is thick enough, 1/4" after grinding off the teeth,otherwise you will end up with a blade that has a very wide bevel which is very difficult to hone. Been there, done that!

Randy's got the process down, I'm following on my first, still working on it.
Bob Allman's got some great pictures posted here of the process (Birth of a razor series), which is where I picked up most of the know how. Nobody told me it couldn't be done, so being stupid I got some steel and had a go. That said I am a trained toolmaker originaly so have a few skills. I've made mistakes for sure and it aint finished yet (I call that learning). Don't hesitate, have a go but be patient. Everyone I've asked for help so far has been very generous giving up knowledge, so ask as you go. I'm dead new to this but what I've learned I will gladly share.