Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: knightd on February 27, 2009, 03:18:25 am

Title: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on February 27, 2009, 03:18:25 am

Ok A few of you guys asked if I would Do a  Build-A-Long on how I make knives out of edger blades.. I am by NO!! stretch of the imagination a knife maker so bare with me on this. So here it goes.. I got my edger blade at the local hardware it cost 3 bucks.. The first thing you want to do is lay out a basic profile of the shape blade you want to have.. keep in mind you will get 2 blades out of each edger blade and you might as well cut both of them out at while you are at it..here is the basic way I lay them out..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives002.jpg)

Then I use a dremel with one of the fiber cutting disk to cut out the blanks.
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives006.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives008.jpg)

At this point I use a belt and disk sander to finish shaping out the blank.. I keep my old belts just for sanding and grinding on metal..I don't have a bench grinder so I am using my belt sander to put some what of a hollow grind on the blade I like to keep a cup of water close by to dip the blank in to keep it cool while grinding on it..The edger blades are tempered well enough to hold a good edge when you get them and if you are carefull when you are working on them not to get them to hot. Then you wont have to retemper the blade. 
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives011.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives014.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Jesse on February 27, 2009, 12:24:42 pm

Great idea Im gonna have o try one now.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: DanaM on February 27, 2009, 12:43:46 pm

What kind of edger are these again? How thick are they? Which one is mine ;) ;D

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on February 27, 2009, 04:15:28 pm

They are edger blades that go on like a side walk edger. They are 1/8" thick.. If you go to a lawn care center or such you can get heavy duty ones that are around 3/16" thick..
Dana see the third one down in the pic?? It is yours!! :P ;D ;D

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: DanaM on February 27, 2009, 06:22:52 pm

I got ya now, but whats a lawn ??? Is that the green crap that grows for about a week in August ::) :P >:(

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: madcrow on February 27, 2009, 09:42:49 pm

Nice.  Me likey.  Show me more. 

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on February 27, 2009, 11:44:44 pm

It will be the first of the week before I can get any more done on them..I will post more pics then..

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 06, 2009, 12:56:01 am

OK I finally got the time to work on this again.. OK I use a hand sander with 220grit to remove the deep marks from the sanding belt..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife001.jpg)

Then I drilled the holes for my pins in the blank. I lay the blank on top of one scale and them clamp it down. I then drill my holes in the scales using the knife blank as a template..

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife004.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife006.jpg)

Then I slide 2 of the pins through the holes to keep every thing aligned. then I place the blank on top of the other scale and clamp in place and drill through to the other scale. After I drill the hole I place a pin in it and remove one of the others and drill it and so on till you get all your holes drilled..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife007.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife008.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife009.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife010.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 06, 2009, 01:04:50 am

OK then I take every thing apart. I like to ruff up the tang on the section that will be under the handle with 60 grit sand paper to help give the epoxy something to get ahold of..Then I put epoxy on both scales and put it all together and put the pins through so that they stick out both sides and then clamp it all with clamps until the epoxy dries.. Which will be tomorrow.. ;D.. Sorry about not having pics of puting it togather with the epoxy. I just didnt have time with the 5 min epoxy to stop and take them..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife012.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife014.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knife016.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: cracker on March 06, 2009, 06:36:46 am

Very informative thread keep it coming.Ron

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Hillbilly on March 06, 2009, 12:01:48 pm

That's cool, David-looks like they're gonna be some nice'uns.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Timo on March 06, 2009, 10:39:33 pm

Neat stuff.Curious as to what the pins are? Brass?

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: woodsman1031 on March 07, 2009, 12:45:16 am

great tutorial!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 07, 2009, 01:22:07 am

The pins are 1/8" brass.. Thanks guy's for the kind words.. I will get some more pics up tomorrow..

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: billy on March 07, 2009, 11:46:18 am

No, you will get more pictures NOW!!  I want to see the end result NOW!  NOW!!  Gimme more pictures!  Hurry up!  I'm getting Tired of waiting......o.k.  I've waited long enough.  Post them NOW!!!!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 08, 2009, 03:02:35 am

Yes SIR !! MR Billy..lol.. Ok this is what I got after the epoxy dried and I took the clamps off..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives002-1.jpg)

Then I take it over to my belt sander and rough out the shape of my handle and I use the disk sander to sand off the excess brass pins..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives008-1.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives009.jpg)

I use my dremel to get into the finger groove..This is what she looks like at this point..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives011-1.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives016.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 08, 2009, 03:10:00 am

Then back to the belt sander to knock down all of the square edges..Basically get it as close to the shape as I can with the belt sander..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives025.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives028.jpg)

Then I use my hand sander to do the finish work with 280 grit sandpaper..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives036.jpg)

And this is where we're at so far..I will be polishing and sharpening the blade next..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knives043.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: woodsman1031 on March 08, 2009, 04:25:52 am

i hope you finish soon. I want to see it! ;D

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: billy on March 08, 2009, 10:51:30 pm

HEy, that's super cool!  BUT...I want more pictures NOW!!  Don't make me wait, that's torture!  Why aren't you online posting pics right NOW??   Hurry!!  I want to see it done.....so do it NOW..more pics NOW, not later, NOW!!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 09, 2009, 01:46:56 am

Next I cover the handle with tape so that the black metal dust from sanding on the blade doesn't get on the handle..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/11001.jpg)

Then I used 220 and 300 grit sand paper to clean up the blade a little..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/11004.jpg)

then I move to the belt sander to pre sharpen the blade..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/11006.jpg)

After that I remove the tape and get ready to put the finish on the handle..
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/11011.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/11014.jpg)

Sorry Billy but you will have to wait till tomorrow to see it finished.. :P

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: woodsman1031 on March 09, 2009, 04:02:37 am

Looking good!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Timo on March 09, 2009, 08:16:08 am

That there is just perty sweet! Nice tut. I have a roofing friend that gives me the old drivers out of his roofing staple guns. I figure they would work the same as what you are useing? Very hard metal.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: billy on March 09, 2009, 10:45:32 am

NO!!   I wanna see it finished NOW!!  Gimme more pictures!!!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 10, 2009, 01:54:49 am

OK this is what we got after 1 coat of wipe on polly.. I will put a couple more coats on but this is the end of this build along.Thanks to all you guy's that took the time to look..

P.S. if any of you want to see the fast easy build along of one of these?? Just let me know and I will post another build along and knock one out..

(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knive004.jpg)
(http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll323/knight3169/knives/knive007.jpg)

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: billy on March 10, 2009, 02:20:09 am

Wow dude, super cool knife! 

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 10, 2009, 02:22:22 am

Thank's Billy.. This one is going out to somebody in the kith trade.. I hope they like it as well..

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Timo on March 10, 2009, 05:26:16 pm

Really nice job. Thanks for taking the time to show your work and the process.

Question: Do you know of the hardness of these particular blades? And how well do they hold their edge? Just curious.

Thanks

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 10, 2009, 05:44:12 pm

I would say around 55 to 60 rockwell.. They hold a edge real nice..

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Hillbilly on March 13, 2009, 12:31:42 pm

Looks great, David-reminds me of one of those Old Timer sharp fingers. Those edger blades are good metal, I have a hide scraper i made from one. I'll have to try them for knife blades now, thanks for the tut.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: nugget on March 14, 2009, 05:01:45 pm

Nice Job Dave. You can bring me one when you come over next weekend ;D

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Talin342 on March 19, 2009, 03:31:01 pm

How well does the blade hold and edge?  In your opinon is the blade mild steel or something more along the lines of 1080?

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: knightd on March 20, 2009, 02:30:34 am

Nugget I don't got you one of these but I got you a little something..  ;)

Thanks Hillbilly.. Give them a try I think you will be surprised at how easy it is to get a good knife out of them..

Talin342 .  I ain't much on the # of different steel.. But I can say that it holds an edge fairly well.. I have skinned a few hogs and deer with them and they held up well. when you cut through them with the dremal there will be a paper thin piece or to still attached and you can just bend it at that thickness then after you bend it it will snap off instead of just bending back and forth..

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Badbill on March 23, 2009, 02:33:50 am

The feel of it is more like tool steel than the softer stainless steel. Its not impossible to file, but its hard steel. I'd say it has a rockwell of about 55 to 60.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: taoist on April 21, 2010, 05:05:11 am

Great knife & great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Tao

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: rover brewer on June 10, 2010, 08:12:28 pm

very nice work, you can also stop by a lawn mower repair place and ask if they have some old blades I did and the guy gave me all I wanted.

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: stickbender on June 13, 2010, 10:15:55 pm

     Nice!  But I hate to see handle the unwrapped blade, on the sander ::)  It could grab a hold of it, and slice and dice, and even throw it at you...... :o  Nice build along thanks.  I have a edger blade that I found in the road, that I picked up just for that purpose, and almost the same design, just never got around to making it. 

                                                                                  Wayne

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Stoker on October 23, 2012, 02:13:00 pm

bump for Adam

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Adam on October 23, 2012, 02:14:52 pm

Thanks! Great information!

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Trapper Rob on October 27, 2012, 08:53:15 am

Nice knife now I'm going to the hardware store.
Rob

Title: Re: Edger blade Knife Build-A-long
Post by: Tortoise on October 27, 2012, 02:30:04 pm

That's really neat! I wanna  make one now. Was the steel pre-heat treated?