Slinging.org Forum - Homemade EDC

Thunder Chief

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Homemade EDC
Apr 17^th, 2012 at 10:28pm

So, here's the deal. The only EDC production knife that hasn't let me down under heavy use was a black SAK, and that went AWOL years ago. Fed up, I decided I needed a new blade. So I made one.

I made this over the summer and I've been carrying it regularly since then. I have abused it in ways that no knife should have to endure and it has never failed me. Ever.

Do any of you carry homemade blades on a regular basis?

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xxkid123

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #1 - Apr 18^th, 2012 at 2:14am

I don't carry any of my own made blades- I can't forge, and I don't have a grinder either. I could always use a sidewalk as a grinder, but I've decided a knife isn't worth that much time.

However, nice knife! It's really cool. I haven't ever used a friction folder, but I've got no doubts about their strength. A friction folder's tang would be even harder to break than a lock, and provided you use it like you should use a knife, you'll never have any issues either. At least that's what I've found with my slip joints.

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Thunder Chief

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #2 - Apr 18^th, 2012 at 2:21am

xxkid123 wrote on Apr 18^th, 2012 at 2:14am:

I don't carry any of my own made blades- I can't forge, and I don't have a grinder either. I could always use a sidewalk as a grinder, but I've decided a knife isn't worth that much time.

However, nice knife! It's really cool. I haven't ever used a friction folder, but I've got no doubts about their strength. A friction folder's tang would be even harder to break than a lock, and provided you use it like you should use a knife, you'll never have any issues either. At least that's what I've found with my slip joints.

Besides using it as I should, the thing is super heavy duty. I feel like there's little chance of me breaking it (watch me now break it tomorrow). Also, the tang makes a super handy everything tool. I've used it for everything from breaking up ice to prying a stuck chain off of a bike. It saves me from having to use the blade.

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Camo-sling Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Forge your own path. Posts: 1291 Australia Gender:	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #3 - Apr 20^th, 2012 at 1:38am I like the look of this blade. Does the blade lock in place? I have made a few fixed blades, one of which I posted in this forum a long time ago. At the moment I'm creating a karambit. I'm not very serious about it as I don't bother heat treating though.
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Rat Man Slinging.org Moderator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 9525 New Jersey, USA Gender:	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #4 - Apr 20^th, 2012 at 11:28am My dad used to make his own knives but I never did. He'd make them from all sorts of things. They were always fixed blades. He liked hack saw blades sometimes.
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Thunder Chief

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #5 - Apr 20^th, 2012 at 4:06pm

Rat Man wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 11:28am:

My dad used to make his own knives but I never did. He'd make them from all sorts of things. They were always fixed blades. He liked hack saw blades sometimes.

I'd be interested to see some of those, if you've got pictures.

The blade does not actually "lock," it's a friction folder, so I hold the tang under my hand while in use. I really haven't had any trouble. The screw is also pretty tight, so it doesn't swing closed on my hand. It's done everything I've asked it to without a hitch. I think it's only real problem would be if it were pressed into service as a fighting knife (which it certainly isn't, at all, and was never designed to be). In that case, I'd probably use the tang as an improvised type of kubotan.

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Thunder Chief

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #6 - Apr 20^th, 2012 at 4:10pm

Camo-sling wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 1:38am:

I'm not very serious about it as I don't bother heat treating though.

Heat treating is a bit of a pain, but it's certainly worth it and when you're done, you'll have a knife that'll hold an edge and that you will actually be able to carry and use.
Also, if cost is an issue, you can build a forge out of a three dollar cinder block, a metal tube, and any kind of air moving equipment.

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xxkid123

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #7 - Apr 21^st, 2012 at 5:37pm

Thunder Chief wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 4:10pm:

Camo-sling wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 1:38am:

I'm not very serious about it as I don't bother heat treating though.

Heat treating is a bit of a pain, but it's certainly worth it and when you're done, you'll have a knife that'll hold an edge and that you will actually be able to carry and use.
Also, if cost is an issue, you can build a forge out of a three dollar cinder block, a metal tube, and any kind of air moving equipment.

I've heard that if it's a thin enough piece of steel, like a hacksaw blade, a blow torch would suffice. Of course it would be a little harder to keep the heating even, but it would be a lot easier.

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Dan

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #8 - Apr 21^st, 2012 at 6:10pm

xxkid123 wrote on Apr 21^st, 2012 at 5:37pm:

Thunder Chief wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 4:10pm:

Camo-sling wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 1:38am:

I'm not very serious about it as I don't bother heat treating though.

Heat treating is a bit of a pain, but it's certainly worth it and when you're done, you'll have a knife that'll hold an edge and that you will actually be able to carry and use.
Also, if cost is an issue, you can build a forge out of a three dollar cinder block, a metal tube, and any kind of air moving equipment.

I've heard that if it's a thin enough piece of steel, like a hacksaw blade, a blow torch would suffice. Of course it would be a little harder to keep the heating even, but it would be a lot easier.

Tools like hacksaws are usualy already heat treated pretty well. Unless you mess it up with a oxy-acetilne torch or something, I think youd be okay just leaving it as is.

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Thunder Chief

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #9 - Apr 22^nd, 2012 at 3:32pm

Dan wrote on Apr 21^st, 2012 at 6:10pm:

xxkid123 wrote on Apr 21^st, 2012 at 5:37pm:

Thunder Chief wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 4:10pm:

Camo-sling wrote on Apr 20^th, 2012 at 1:38am:

I'm not very serious about it as I don't bother heat treating though.

Heat treating is a bit of a pain, but it's certainly worth it and when you're done, you'll have a knife that'll hold an edge and that you will actually be able to carry and use.
Also, if cost is an issue, you can build a forge out of a three dollar cinder block, a metal tube, and any kind of air moving equipment.

I've heard that if it's a thin enough piece of steel, like a hacksaw blade, a blow torch would suffice. Of course it would be a little harder to keep the heating even, but it would be a lot easier.

Tools like hacksaws are usualy already heat treated pretty well. Unless you mess it up with a oxy-acetilne torch or something, I think youd be okay just leaving it as is.

You might be able to make a knife out of a hacksaw blade without killing the temper, but if you do anything thicker it becomes impractical. Not only is the steel steel going to still be hard, but you are going to have to go mind-numbingly slow. Either way, I know I would destroy an EDC blade made out of a hacksaw lickety-split. I'd prefer not to have to worry about breaking anything. In my opinion it's worth the extra trouble.

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fletch_man Senior Member Offline When the Guns are Gone Posts: 364 Gender:	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #10 - Apr 27^th, 2012 at 4:21pm That is an outstanding job. I've always liked wharncliff blades.
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Greenman Senior Member Offline Posts: 256 Krugersdorp, South Africa	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #11 - Apr 28^th, 2012 at 4:39pm If you like hand made knives, check out http://www.forgedknives.co.za This guy often makes knives from leaf spring. He heats the steel to remove the hardness, shapes the blade and when it is done, he puts the "spring" back in. Brilliant, practical knives. I carry a ColdSteel SRK everywhere i go.
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xxkid123 Past Moderator Offline Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel Posts: 4798 new to california Gender:	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #12 - Apr 28^th, 2012 at 11:00pm Thunderchief....what exactly do you do that requires an ultra tough blade?
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Thunder Chief Funditor Offline Don't Panic! Posts: 816	Re: Homemade EDC Reply #13 - Apr 30^th, 2012 at 2:45am xxkid123 wrote on Apr 28^th, 2012 at 11:00pm: Thunderchief....what exactly do you do that requires an ultra tough blade? EVERYTHING. I am routinely very hard on my tools (knives especially) just because I use them for so much. It's also nice to know that I can use it for whatever without worrying about it.
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me2

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Re: Homemade EDC
Reply #14 - May 3^rd, 2012 at 10:03pm

I've made a few of my own fixed blades, but no folders. I've always thought friction folders were interesting. I need to pick one up and give it a try.

I have a few (3 I think) fully hardened (like 64 to 66 Rockwell C) high speed steel hacksaw blades that make excellent cutting knives. They are surprisingly tough as well, but have no forgiveness. One careless move and they're gone. However, if you're into extremely high edge holding they are very nice. They are not soft backed like most hacksaw blades. One piece of high speed steel from spine to edge. I'd be willing to part with one if anyone wants to try one out. They are about 2' long, 1.75" wide, and about 3/32" thick, with very coarse 4 teeth per inch. The test knife I made was from a smaller one, 1 mm thick and about 1 inch wide. Those are very good as well, but I'm out. The downside is you need a lot of patience and a pretty good grinder to shape them. Blacksmith methods of annealing/softening won't work, and think stick tang instead of full tang unless you have carbide drill bits and the tools to go with them. They will keep their current hardness given above to about 1000 degrees F.

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