My First Knife

[Brett652]

I learned a lot from reading these threads.

 

Thank you for all of the good information!  :)

[kayakersteve]

What type of steel did you use?  Are the pins mushroomed brass?  Hard to tell because pics are small.

[Brett652]

The blade is 1095. The grips are oak. I made the rivets from brass bolts - cut down to size and then peened out with a hammer. I used five or six coats of polyeurethane on the grips (fine sanding in between, of course).

 

I started assembling knives from store-bought blades a couple of years ago. This is the first blade I made myself.

 

"He who is self-taught has a fool for a pupil." If anyone has any words of wisdom for me, I would be deeply appreciative. 

 

My previous next-door neighbor installed floors for a living, and he said that his preferred adhesive for wood-to-metal was Gorilla Glue. I used that for most of the dozens of knives I've assembled. I like it because it expands as it dries, so any tiny empty spaces are filled up. I've used epoxy on a few and haven't noticed that it works any better. Some of the knives I assembled have seen very regular use as kitchen knives for over a year and I have seen no problems with the adhesive so far. Maybe I am missing something.

 

I have assembled a lot of knives with laminate grip materials, but have been disappointed at how it can develop small cracks during assembly or after dozens of journeys through the dishwasher. I have had very few similar problems assmbling hardwood grips, and no problems at all during use or numerous trips through the dishwasher. I'm assuming maybe it's because the wood has a little bit of "give" or "spring" to it? Maybe my problems with the laminate are due to my ignorance or ineptitude.

 

I love an oil finish on wooden grips, but it won't hold up to kitchen use (I'm assuming that dishsoap affects it). I didn't know what else to use, so I started using about six coats of polyeurethane. A lot of use in the kitchen and a lot of runs through the dishwater have not seemed to affect it. I'm not sure if there is something better I should/could be using, or if polyeurethane is generally considered to be acceptable. 

 

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful and helpful site.    :)

[kayakersteve]

Thanks for response - 1095 can be tricky to harden - What was your quenchant?  I know what you mean about kitchen knives and washing - My family is 'trained' that my knives dont spend soak time when being washed.  They was with warm soapy water, rinse well, then dry and apply light coat of veg oil.  I hesitate to say 'train' because if my wife saw that she might help 'unbuild' my knives with a hammer!

[Brett652]

I quenched it in used motor oil. That's all I had at the time, but after reading some threads here I know that I should use some kind of vegetable oil next time. I heated the blade up until it was orange and (obviously) non-magnetic, then I quenched it. After it was cleaned off I put it in the oven at 450 for two hours, let it cool slowly, then did the same again. I haven't been able to chip or break it by chopping branches or prying pavestones, so hopefully it is hard enough. I made it for very heavy use, more of a garden tool than a regular knife.

[kayakersteve]

With motor oil and 1095, you will get some hardening, but most people I talk to say the either ATF or Parks50? are the choice for 1095.  Anyhow, looks good