Forge Welding/Knife

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I was asked to post a picture of my first knife using the propane forge built from 200amppbusa's post.  The only welding was a littel forge welding on the tang of the knife (hidden by the handle) and the knife vice I made to help hold the knife while sanding/polishing.  This post could go to Tools/Homemade or off-topic or where ever but I thought hat since the forge originated here - then here it should start. I actually used two forges for this knife, my old coal forge and my new venturi propane forge. I did all of the forging work with the coal forge and then heat treated it with the propane forge. After heat treating I edge quenched the blade and then tempered in my oven. I must of done something right as the edge is quite hard - hard enough that when I tried to sharpen it with a file (good Nickleson file) it just skated over the edge. I finally had to use a diamond hone. Yet the blade itself still has some flex to it - when I place the handle in my knife vise to polish I'd get about 1/4 in flex using sanding pressure. I used a leaf spring from a '78 Ford HD pick-up (camper special) so if figure the steel is probably 5160. One thing for sure - the steel is tough and hold and edge pretty well. The knife is supposed to be an old school Bowie. The blade is 9" long, 3/16 thick at the bolster, and 1 3/4" wide. It has a brass bolster/guardand an American walnut handle held in place with three brass pins made from brass welding rod. Full tang - hidden. The balance point is 1/4" forward of the brass guard. I still have a little finish work - it a bear to polish!First KnifeHomemade Padded Vice (pads are old 'puter mouse pads - tought and non-slip).  This vice sits in my regular vice and allows me to work on the blade held horizontally,  The pads protect the handle from marring or slipping.  Great for lawn mower blades, hedge clipers,etc.Last edited by reefera4m; 11-19-2009 at 08:28 PM.
Reply:Not bad for your first knife.  Might want to leave more of a ricasso to put your initials on.
Reply:That's actually really cool!
Reply:Nice work on that blade, looks great!  I also like the mini-vise you made to hold it ... may I borrow that idea?
Reply:Nice work. I used to work with someone who made knives. He made a few with cut off tools for a lathe, pretty brittle but held an edge forever.
Reply:Great work. I am still unable to believe that the vices shown in the figure are home made. Thanks for sharing your valuable ideas with us.wheel castors | swivel castors
Reply:Hi Ya reefera4m you may want to contact bob warner who is also a Welding Web member. Bob makes some great knives.http://www.bobwarnerknives.comCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:did some knife making a while ago... for hunting purposes... love knife I like your bowie Attached ImagesUnit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:SpyGuy,Feel free to copy the vise - I saw a similar vise at a local bladesmith's shop and he said I could copy his!  The mouse pad was my idea and it is ideal for this application.Specter,I contacted Bob Warner quite a while ago and he got me started making knives from railroad spikes.  My son thought it was kinda cool so when he was home from college this summer we made a few.  A couple of neighbor kids, 12 and 13 years old, also got involved and we helped them make one for each of them.  We do twisted handles and various blade designs from skinner to dagger type blades.  Soft steel that doesn't harden but they make great conversation pieces and the kids love them.I'm making a second forge with offset burners - will post when it get done (if it works).  My Millermatic 175 is ideal for this type of project.  I've also been teaching the neighbor how to weld and I'm amazed at how fast they are catching on,  I had four kids of them over last weekend and withing an hour or so each of them could run a 'stack of dimes' bead.  One more hour and they were doing  fillet welds that looked professional!  Good thing I have two tanks and a large spool of wire  .
Reply:http://www.warnerknives.com/Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:may I suggest using coconut shell charcoal... better carbon and heat. I am also a hobbist knife maker... nothing fancy but like a good hilt...Maybe u can use animal horn to form a nice hilt like the pic I have attached Attached ImagesUnit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:I have been making knives for about 15 years now.  There is a lot to know to make them correctly. Unfortunately I did not learn them from others and had to figure them out by myself, takes a long time to learn that way.I like seeing others getting into knife making.Here are a couple of mine:The railroad spike knife made of damascus (in my banner)The spike before making it into a knifeA knife with the hamon line showing and mosaic pins. Attached Images
Reply:Mandau - I have no idea where I would be enough coconut shells to make enough charcoal to forge with.  With my coal forge I use eithe coal that I cook down to coke or charcoal I make from Big Leaf Maple (plentiful here in the Pacific Northwest).  The charcoal I make is actually quite good - burns hot and clean.  Still Coal/Coke last a lot longer.Bob, I probably neglected to thank you for your words of encouragement but take this as a formal Thanks! .  I'm still learning a lot about knifemaking.  A bunch of folks here in Western Washington are forming a group to share the knifemaking experience through periodic 'Hammer-ins'.  The first was hosted by Geoff Keyes, of 5ElementsForge, a Journeyman Bladesmith.  While I missed the first 'Hammer-in' I did manage to visit Geoff at hist shop and learned a lot in just one afternoon.  I was also able to sign up four or five other people interested in attending the next 'hammer-in' including another accomplised knifemaker.  Great stuff.
Reply:I wouldnt mind ordering a damascus that have the shape of the first pic knife... dont know the price of the market for such unquie knife...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:The damascus Railroad Spike Knife is the only completely damascus Railroad spike in existence. I was the first and only one to make one. Some eople have welded damascus blades to railroad spikes but this entire knife has no railroad steel in it at all. I made the steel from 1084 and 15N20 steels, forged the spike and then forged the knife. It has been in Knives Illustrated magazine twice.It is a lot more pricey than people think for a one of a kind handmade art piece but if you are really interested, PM me. I will not be making another one, can't forge anymore.BobLast edited by Bob Warner; 11-30-2009 at 08:40 PM.
Reply:reefera4m,Glad to help.Bob
Reply:thx will send u a message soon... will also inquire some knife smithing tools...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...