Knife Making Questions

[TexasBob]

I know I could use google and weed through 100 forums, but I was hoping for more direct answers. My BIL is getting married at the end of the year and I want to make him a custom knife as a gift. I have read lots on the basic process and I think I can do it. I also have time to screw up a few times if I start now. That said, what is the best blade steel? CPM154 seems interesting. I would prefer stainless for ease of care and damascus is more than I want to spend. Where should I send it off to be heat treated, and how far do I sand/polish before heat treating?

[Blood Trail]

I've never worked with CPM154 or any other stainless. I've always used high carbon. Look into 5160 as well.

From my experience (which aint that much), I've always established my plungeline and grinds before the heat treat. Then after the heat treating, I'll polish.

I like working with 1095, 1080, and L6. These I can heat treat in my grill. 5160 requires a soak time a little past critical, so if u have a kiln, that would be awesome.

[TexasBob]

Thanks for the info. I like high carbon knives, but I know the care needed as well. I think he will do better with stainless since it is a little more forgiving. I will take note of the steels you mentioned though- I want to make myself a high carbon knife.

[TexasBob]

TTT. Anyone else?

[akey]

I would really think hard about using stainless for your first knife. I haven't worked with stainless but I believe it may be harder to grind than high carbon steel. Also, handmade knives are not generally dishwasher safe so even a stainless knife is going to have a higher level of care than a store bought knife so it isn't much more work to dab a little of whatever oil you have in your kitchen on the blade. Are you going to hand grind it or use a belt grinder?

[TexasBob]

I will probably hand grind for the sake of not going too far. I have a belt sander and a grinder though. Still working out my options. I don't mind if it takes longer if the end product is better

[Puggy625]

I use a lot of ATS-34 steel for my knives. It's basically the same as the CPM154, and cheaper, but it will hold an edge and you can get it sharp as heck. Haven't had any complaints about any of my knives so far. I send mine to Texas Knifemakers Supply (Houston) for heat treat/cryo treat and so far, they've done an awesome job. I usually sand it to about 400 grit to remove any deep scratches before sending it to heat treat, that way its easier to sand and polish once I get it back.

[doublearrow]

My first knives were out of stainless. Draw filing bevels in and polish before heat treat and its not bad. Cpm154 stainless is my favorite steel. I grind the profile and drill holes then heat treat. Afterwards i do all my grinding and polishing. I dont like or care for the crooks at texas knifemakers (seemnhs to be a 50/50 split in the knife world on them) so i send my stainless to paul bos for heat treat. Just about any of the well known heat treaters will be able to heat treat a ground and polished knife, you will just have a bit of discoloration to remove when it gets back.

[Fiddlefish]

Good luck with your project, keep us posted on progress. Interested and following.