/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
142,881 Subscribers
So I was commissioned to make this finka with aquamarine colored maple burl. I really love this turned out! What do you think of it?
23:41 UTC
So I was commissioned to make this finka with aquamarine colored maple burl. I really love this turned out! What do you think of it?
23:40 UTC
Hamone
23:40 UTC
Knife Boxes
Does anyone know of a source of knife boxes? All of my Japanese knives came in a nice gift box.
I would like to be able to do the same.
20:46 UTC
Needing information
I'm wanting to convert a log splitter into a knife press. My question is what is the bare minimum ton splitter that I should use
20:30 UTC
I love the looks of these
19:07 UTC
Waterproofing the leather
Don't do anything
14:48 UTC
Another N690 with carbonfiber
11:15 UTC
Aluminum handle
Im thinking of making a handle for a sword that's shaped like a hand (similar to pic) would a cast aluminum or bronze work or would I have to hand sculpt it out of a different material to get a decent result that won't break immediately? Thanks in advance!
05:25 UTC
Machining
From a Bowie
23:20 UTC
Razzor Muffin in AEB-L
21:24 UTC
Good deal?
I know nothing about forging but I found this on marketplace. This would be a gift for my son whom has been into metalworking since he was 13, he’s now 19. He’s been talking about wanting a forging setup for a few years now. I am getting him lessons locally as well so he’ll know how to use one.
14:39 UTC
modified, forged, integral and Full Tang gyuto. made in 52100 carbon steel. the customer really liked it.
21:33 UTC
Whale Skull
Indescribable beauty
21:25 UTC
What’s y’all’s preferred method and grit for a satin finish? Lately I do only by hand with a wood block up to 800, all in the same direction, then a buffing wheel but I don’t always like the results
I do by hand bc I feel more precise than with a belt or palm sander but it sure is tedious on big knives
05:08 UTC