Bladesmithing: 101 Bladesmithing FAQ: Answers to Your Burning Knifemaking Questions About Forging, Stock Removal, Tools, and Heat Treatment

By Wes Sander

Have you ever felt like, no matter how much reading or research you do on bladesmithing - it's never enough?

Are you a beginner bladesmith that is constantly faced with problems that you can't seem get solved?

Do you want to know why your latest knife didn't turn out like it was supposed to?

Do you have a burning knife making question, that you NEED to get answered?

Have you consulted many knife makers and searched across forums, but still have questions that are unanswered?

Your solution is here.

I, Wes Sander, have compiled answers to 101 of the most frequently asked questions that knife makers have.

These questions solve a wide range of problems, from choosing the correct knife making steel to how much you should pay for an anvil.

In this book you will discover the answer to the following questions:

• How do I get started knife making with just hand tools?

• How do I make my own forge?

• What is the best knife steel for beginners?

• Is it better to do stock removal or forging?

• Can I forge scrap metal into knives and will they last?

• How much should I pay for an anvil?

• What's a good arc welder for a beginner?

• How do I forge stainless steel?

• How many billets of steel do you stack for making Damascus?

• How do I make my own scales?

• Should I become an apprentice under a mentor or more experienced knife maker?

• Do I drill holes into the tang before or after heat treatment?

• What should be the pivot location on a folding knife?

• What should I do with leaf spring that is too wide to use?

• Are engine parts good for making knives?

• What is a good groove tool I should use for leatherwork?

• What is a good stainless steel that is relatively easy to heat treat?

• Should I heat treat the tang of my knife?

• Can you weld Damascus steel to standard stainless steel?

Many more such pressing questions have been answered inside this book.

You can use this book as a compendium of solutions to your bladesmithing problems, when nobody else is willing to help you solve them.

No question is too dumb either, every beginner has the right to ask even the most basic questions.

That is why questions from all skill levels have been answered.

If you have a doubt you can't solve, it could lead to problems in your next build.

Answer that burning question, before it leads to a fault in your knife.

Take action now and buy this book!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wes Sander
• Release date: Sep 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393469315

Book preview

Bladesmithing 101 FAQ

Answers to Your Burning Knife Making Questions about Forging, Stock Removal, Tools, and Heat Treatment

Wes Sander

© Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.

The content contained within this book may not be reproduced, duplicated or transmitted without direct written permission from the author or the publisher.

Under no circumstances will any blame or legal responsibility be held against the publisher, or author, for any damages, reparation, or monetary loss due to the information contained within this book, either directly or indirectly.

Legal Notice:

This book is copyright protected. It is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part, or the content within this book, without the consent of the author or publisher.

Disclaimer Notice:

Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been executed to present accurate, up to date, reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.

By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Tools of the Trade

What’s the Best Pocket Knife Brand?

What Is a Good Arc Welder for Beginners?

How Much Should I Pay for an Anvil?

How Much Should I Pay for Calipers?

What Oil Should I Use to Maintain My Leather Sheath?

How Do I Make My Own Scales?

What Are the Different Parts of a Knife?

How Do I Start Making A Knife With Only Hand Tools?

What Is a Good Groove Tool for Leatherwork?

Are Engine Parts Good for Making Blades?

How Do I Set Up a File Jig?

What Are the Most Hardwearing Handle Materials?

Why Is Titanium Usually Used for Scales on Framelock Knives Instead of Mild or Tool Steel?

Is There Any Downside to Using Lighter (and Cheaper) Anvils?

Is Beeswax a Good Compound to Prevent Blade From Rusting?

Can I Heat Treat a Small Blade With a Torch?

If I Had to Buy Just One Power Tool for Knife-Making, What Would It Be?

What Tool Do You Need to Cut Serrations Into a Knife?

What’s a Good Angle Degree to Set My Jig for Bush or Survival Knives?

What Are Essential Bladesmithing Tools to Get When I’m Finally Setting Up a Workshop?

Chapter 2: Forging Blades

How Do I Get the Perfect Plunge Line for My Knife?

How Do I Build My Forge?

How Can I Forge Stainless Steel?

Can I Forge Scrap Metal Into Knives? How Long Will They Last?

Is It Better to Use Oil or Water for Quenching?

What Do I Do If I Do Not Want to Buy an Expensive Forge to Heat Treat My Knives?

If You Are Quenching an Item in Oil, How Long Should It Be Left There?

After Quenching, Do I Remove the Scales From the Blade Before or After Tempering?

Should I Heat Treat the Tang of My knife?

How Important Is Tempering After Quenching?

Should I Forge Anything Out of Aluminum?

The Surface for My Anvil Is Not in Very Good Shape. Can I Take It to a Machine Shop and Have It Milled Without Damaging It? Or Should I Leave It Alone and Use as It Is?

I Am Making a Knife From Old File. After I Somewhat Get It to Shape and Before Hardening It, How Sharp Should the Blade Be?

Do I Drill Holes in the Tang Before or After Heat Treatment?

What Should Be the Pivot Location on a Folding Knife? What Should Be Its Position?

When Coffee Etching, Do You Use Hot or Cold Water?

My Blade Warped After Quenching. Can I Go Ahead and Temper It as Is and then Address the Warp Without Breaking It?

Is It Worth It to Use Motor Oil for Quenching?

What Is a Good Oil for Quenching?

Do I Quench and Harden the Knife Before or After Putting the Bevel and Edge on It?

Do You Sharpen Your Knife Before or After Heat Treatment?

Does It Make Sense to Wear a Respirator While Forging?

How Hot Should My Forge Be When I Am Forging? At What Temperature Should the Flames Be?

What Types of Files Are the Best When Hand-Filing Blades?

How Thin Should I