/r/Bladesmith
A subreddit for the metalworkers who specialize in forging knives and other blade tools. Swords, daggers, kitchen cutlery, carving chisels, etc. Come in, look around, ask a question, learn, and have fun.
Welcome to Bladesmith! The art and craft of forged blades.
This place is welcome to everyone, from master artisans, to beginners, to people that just like knives and learning and sharing their knowledge
1) Post anything related to bladesmithing.
2) All official AMAs must be Mod approved with verification.
3) Keep comments respectful and on topic.
4) Blatant self promotion and for sale posts are not allowed. You are welcome to make transactions private, but please don't post your website or prices. LINKS TO BLOGS AND WEBSITES ARE CONSIDERED SELF-PROMOTION.
5) Posts that address questions easily searched or answered in the WIKI will be removed.
Click HERE to get to the WIKI.
User Submitted Content:
Kiln Build by meepstah
Large and in Depth List of Wood for Handles
Dirt Cheap Guide to Knife Forging
Useful links and Information:
Heat Treating Tool Box- Kevin Cashen's detailed guide to heat treating
Knife Shop Safety and PPE by Jim Ferguson (Downloadable, Right Click, Save As)
Absolute Cheapskate Way To Start Making Knives (Downloadable PDF)
Bob Engnath Knife Patterns (PDF)
Nick Wheeler- Hand sanding 101 (YouTube)
Steel: The “welding steel” at Tractor Supply/ Lowes/ Home Depot is mild steel and useless for knives Buy new, known, annealed blade steel. It is well worth it. Files, railroad spikes, lawnmower blades and other unknown steels can definitely be used for practice forging but will not perform for a knife. For the work involved, it is very cheap to buy and use known good steel.
1084FG sold by Aldo Bruno is formulated for Knifemaking, Cheap & made for DIY heat-treat. http://njsteelbaron.com/ Phone # 862-203-8160
His telephone service is better than his website.
Kevin Cashen Heat Treating Info
Heat Treating Basics Video (downloadable) Right click and save this and watch it often
Heat Treat services:
Air Hardening Stainless Steel Only A2, ATS34, Elmax, CPM154, 154CM, 440C etc.
Buck Knives- Paul Bos Heat Treating
Oil Hardening Carbon Steels and Air Hardening Stainless Steels Oil quenched O1, 1095, 1084, 52100, 5160 Or air quenched A2, ATS34, Elmax, CPM154, 154CM, 440C etc.
Knifemaker CA (Canadian)
-Be sure to check the Shipping and Price tabs
Quenchants for Oil hardening steel
Forget the Goddard's Goop Quench, Motor Oil, Transmission Fluid
Use commercial quench oil & match oil speed to the steel type Here is a good post by Kevin Cashen with the Explanation and classification of oil speeds
For heat treating yourself with minimal equipment, find a Eutectoid steel 1080, 1084. Grocery store canola oil can work well -if you use clean preheated oil
Brine and water are cheap for "water hardening" steels W1 and 1095, but use fast oils Parks 50 & Houghton Quench K If you use water or brine, expect broken blades!
For more general blacksmithing, check out our friends at /r/blacksmith
Check out /r/ChefKnives for all things regarding culinary cutlery
Gunsmithing /r/gunsmithing
Want a knife made? /r/MakerMesh
A place where both metal bangers and grinder monkeys are welcome /r/knifemaking
Like general knife discussion? /r/knives is the place for you.
Making knives isn't your thing, but the metal still calls? Here ya go: /r/metalworking
Need help with a different type of craft besides steel? Search here: /r/ArtisanHelp
A marketplace for 100% hand crafted goods /r/ArtisanGifts
For equipment and tool buy/sell/trade /r/bladesmithswap
Want to talk about knives and share yours? /r/knifeclub
/r/Bladesmith
143,658 Subscribers
Need some advice
09:45 UTC
Need some help with starting tools
Hey yall, been reading on the wiki and I have a couple questions
Are the below sufficient for hand filing a steel stock into a blade?
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-file-set-4-piece-69682.html
The harbor freight grinder listed in the wiki is no longer on their site/can’t see what it looked like. Is the below one a good choice?
For quenching, how hot does the blade need to get? What do you all use to put the oil in for quenching and how much do you need?
02:25 UTC
Knives
Today I present:
Knife set Gaúcha Gyuto Kitchen utility Fork All forged integral Chaira Made in 5160 carbon steel Axis deer handles
UNAVAILABLE
A big hug to everyone!
00:30 UTC
The shop dog approves
WIP: small integral bolster chef knife with 81 layers of 15n20 and 1095, with 115CrV3 as core. Next step is an hour in muriatic acid.
16:00 UTC
The shop dog approves
WIP: small integral bolster chef knife with 81 layers of 15n20 and 1095, with 115CrV3 as core. Next step is an hour in muriatic acid.
15:59 UTC
How do I blacken carbon steel?
12:41 UTC
Chef's piece in Turkish Damascus steel
12:41 UTC
3D print upgrades to the shop
01:57 UTC
Hunter
80 cry 2 blade , copper Guard, thuja wood handle.
00:06 UTC
Help, how can I remove these marks
Like a 10 year old I got a new sword and proceeded to cut some fruit and a plant , and now I have these marks left on it which won't come off, I've tried soapy water , watered down bleach , metal scrubber and it won't come off, I've also tried isopropyl 70%
It's 1085 high carbon steel
23:05 UTC
A custom build I finished a few months ago. The handle has a .264 copper projectile encased in epoxy.
19:41 UTC
Crafted this model about 1.5 years ago, here's the old pic
18:13 UTC
The Wanderer
16:49 UTC
First time forging a karambit
1084, epoxy resin handle, brass pins.
13:24 UTC
N690-Walnut
12:31 UTC