Russell N. Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 I am going to try and make a japanese style tanto out of an old file, i plan on treating the steel as w-2 and I am using a piece of what i think is walnut to make the grip and scabbard. so far i have been contemplating it and have ground off the teeth from the file. Just wanted to know what you guys thought, all criticism is appreciated! this is the board and file i will be using My $2 grinding wheel the file after i ground off the teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I would anneal the file before continuing. While your grinding wheel will work for profiling the blade, there's going to come a time when you have to lay in the bevels and the grinder just won't work as nicely as you might like. Files and sandpaper are going to be needed rather soon, and working on a hardened file with those will be a chore, to say the least. Overall, you're almost there and it's looking good. I'm anxious to see pics as you progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 I would anneal the file before continuing. While your grinding wheel will work for profiling the blade, there's going to come a time when you have to lay in the bevels and the grinder just won't work as nicely as you might like. Files and sandpaper are going to be needed rather soon, and working on a hardened file with those will be a chore, to say the least. Overall, you're almost there and it's looking good. I'm anxious to see pics as you progress! thanks, i started forging the file into the shape i wanted tonight. i shaped most of the tip and bent the metal towards the edge so it would straighten as i forged the edge. but as you can see in the picture it is bending back more than i anticipated, i am going to to try bend it more towards the edge so it will come out mostly straight i want it to eventually come out something like the bob engnath tantos featured in JPH's "the complete bladesmith" and i am hoping to find some proper heat treating clay locally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Jim Hrisoulas definitely knows what he's doing. I've got all 3 of his books and they're worth every cent. Another really good book that may help u some is Wayne Goddard's "The $50 Knife Shop". It's chock full of good ideas on how to get started in knifemaking/bladesmithing. Just in case u don't already own it..and of course it's just my opinion. Keep us posted! Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 After another night of forging i think the blade is really starting to take shape. the length is 11.5" right now but will probably end up a little longer after i finish forging the edge. as it stands i think its going well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 looking good! keep us posted... Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 tonight i finished my forging, tomorrow i will go to the belt sander to shape my bevels. also would anyone know where to find proper heat treating clay near McHenry county illinois? that would be amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 nice forging, that looks like it will go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 as far as heat treating clay is concerned..if there's none in ur area (natural) u mite try a concrete or cinder block company in ur area..u should be able to get a 40# bag of fire clay for around $25 and I understand refractory cement will also work...keep the photos and updates coming..looking great! Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 i got alot of good work done today on the belt sander, but i made a rookie mistake and was sanding without my gloves on and the seam of the belt caught the spine of my knife and yanked it out of my hand and broke my belt , the knife didn't cut me terribly bad but i am still gonna wait until tomorrow to work on it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdaleh Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 i never wear gloves to grind with if the steel is to hot to hold with bare hands then cool it down. after heat treating you want to feel the steel so you don't build any heat at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrkiddi Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 looks more like a Kitchen knife than a Tanto if you ask me... but nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Very nice forging! I haven't forged in years, but I feel confident in saying that you've done a far better job than I could. Great hammer control. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 thats good advice tdaleh thanks but i am still working at 60 grit shaping my bevels, and it isn't finished yet is it mrkiddi , i am almost done with the bevels so by the end of tomorrow it should be ready for normalizing and heat treating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge9001 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 The blade shape is more of a drop point and it looks like a kithchen knife of maybe a hunter, instead of a having the angular shape of a tanto. however, Very nice blade. I would love to see the finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 now that i look at it longer i see what you guys are talking about, too late to fix the shape though, think i should finish it like one anyway or just make a handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge9001 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 now that i look at it longer i see what you guys are talking about, too late to fix the shape though, think i should finish it like one anyway or just make a handle? onwe of most beautiful things about mistake is they can turn out better than the intended idea. keep going see where the steel leads you. and don't forget the pictures.please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I think it looks fantastic..I do see why some are calling it a kitchen knife..but it still looks great! keep the pics and postings coming!!! Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't tread on me Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Do not and I repeat do not quench that in water IT MIGHT SHATER. I had a Bowie I was making out of a truck spring shater on me and I was not happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 yeah i figured, im gonna quench it in vegetable oil thanks for the warning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't tread on me Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 yeah i figured, im gonna quench it in vegetable oil thanks for the warning Your welcom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Another good way to oil quench is one part diesel to 3 parts 30 weight non-detergent motor oil (cheap stuff) and I've also heard that ATF is as good a quench oil as Brownell's quench oil at $60.00 a gal! Gene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell N. Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 thanks guys, this good stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokshasa Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 i use hydrolic oil, it works well for me. the knife looks awesome, cant wait to see it with a handle i bet it will look nothing like a kitchen knife when its done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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