Working on making a knife out of a saw blade

[survive]

Here's my latest project. Cut this blank out of a saw blade. Going to make the handles from oak and use brass pins and epoxy glue to hold things in place. Well that is the plan. I broke two carbide bits trying to drill the metal.. might heat the drill points to cherry red and let cool, this should soften the metal.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Done a few knives like this, one outta a leaf spring, that steel you are using is tough. A drill press, go slow and use oil while drilling.

[survive]

Thanks for the tip. Once completed, it'll hold a nice edge... it is just getting there that is a process. Don't have a press, so will have to try an alternate route.

[slingshot]

survive, how did you cut out the knife blank from the saw blade?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thanks for the tip. Once completed, it'll hold a nice edge... it is just getting there that is a process. Don't have a press, so will have to try an alternate route.

If you have someone that can help by slowly placing weight on it like sandbags that wont damage the drill casing maybe. Let us know how it works out, looking forward to it!

[survive]

I used the cutoff wheel from my rotary tool (like a dremel) The are nice and thin, so doesn't chew up as much metal as an angle grinder... tough I heard that they work too. Just use the disks for metal.

Here's what the cutoff wheel looks like:

I have used the reinforced kind and the emery ones. They both work, the reinforced holds up better.

[survive]

Thanks for the encouragement. Unfortunately, I do not have as much time as I'd like, to work on it. The oak pieces are cut, so getting there...

[slingshot]

I used the cutoff wheel from my rotary tool (like a dremel) The are nice and thin, so doesn't chew up as much metal as an angle grinder... tough I heard that they work too. Just use the disks for metal.

Here's what the cutoff wheel looks like:

I have used the reinforced kind and the emery ones. They both work, the reinforced holds up better.

Thanks survive! Hmmm, I wonder if my pneumatic cut off tool would work? Got to try that!

[survive]

Thanks survive! Hmmm, I wonder if my pneumatic cut off tool would work? Got to try that!

That should work. The disks are bigger, so your cut lines will be wider, but should work just fine.

[Long Shot]

I like your design. My brother is currently making his first knife from an old file, he also has an old lawn mower blade he want's to experiement with. I'll let you know how that goes if you want.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I like your design. My brother is currently making his first knife from an old file, he also has an old lawn mower blade he want's to experiement with. I'll let you know how that goes if you want.

I'd like to see it
Survive hows the progress going?

[PJaster]

Remember one aspect when using small Dremel grinders like above...

Keep your cut line cool! I have done many knives in such manner, and I find that if the Hand Held Metal is ~too warm~ to handle, its time to drop it into five gallons of cold water!

I have put Metal cut off blades onto circular saws, held upside down in my vice, and worked Chef Knives till I got to "finish level" and used EZE-LAP Diamond files to remove all cutting, grinding marks, untill I got to the Buffing Stage!

Hope That Helps,

philip

[VIPER]

I was just curious how this project ended up.You would have much better luck getting a carbon steel and shaping your blade and bevels and treat with a torch and oil quench. Carbon steel is very inexpensive and fairly easy to work with.

[rice paddy daddy]

I've got some old 10" circular saw blades from work I wanted to do this with. I feel encouraged now.
I've also thought about using lawn edger blades.
I know nothing of metalurgy, heat treating and such. Nor do I have a forge.

[VIPER]

I've got some old 10" circular saw blades from work I wanted to do this with. I feel encouraged now.
I've also thought about using lawn edger blades.
I know nothing of metalurgy, heat treating and such. Nor do I have a forge.

If these blades you plan to use are hard enough to make a good knife you are going to have a hard way to go to shape and bevel the cutting edge and will have to use carbide drill bits to drill holes for handle scales. If you can drill it with regular drill bits it is not hard enough to make a good knife.