Basic Knife Making Kit, Carbon Steel

Make your own knife from scratch 

Everything you need to make a single knife including steel, handle materials and instructions.

The kit consists of

• Piece of 1084 carbon knife steel  (3.2 x 38 x 300 mm)
• Handle scales, selection of Australian or imported woods ( see Options)
• Pin stock to fit the scales to the blade (Steel, brass or copper)
• Vulcanised fibre spacer material (select colour in Options)
• Rhynowet sand paper             (longer lasting, metal worker paper)
• Full Instructions online          (link below)
  

This is the most complex build we offer and requires more work than the other kits.

You will be designing your own blade and cutting it out, grinding in the bevels (edges), and then heat treating it. 

1084 is a very popular  beginner carbon steels,popular for holding a good edge and possibly the easiest steels to heat treat yourself. 

A blade is nothing without proper heat treating, and by using 1084 Carbon steel, you are giving yourself a bigger window of opportunity for successful hardening, as opposed to steels like 01 and D2. 

The steel comes annealed so it is "soft" and workable. Carbon steel has the advantage of being easier to work (can be forged) and easier to heat treat than stainless steel.

You also get a pair of solid wood handle scales, selected sets based on grain character that are dry and ready to use. If selecting imported scales like Curly Birch or Alder, the cost of the kit will increase when selecting these options.

Included is also vulcanised spacer material, metal pin stock in either 416 stainless steel, brass or copper, sandpaper and full online instructions. For the detailed instructions see this link (also found under the "Instructions" tab) https://nordicedge.com.au/basic-kit-making-both-blade-and-handle/

Rhynowet sandpaper is popular among metalworkers as solid stuff, we are including 5 sheaths of Rhynowet paper.

 If not making a decision on materials, we will select a set of hardwood scales, spacer color and pin material for you.

The blade can be forged out, or ground out using stock removal.

Instructions:

• design your blade shape, and rough cut out with an angle grinder or hacksaw
• file to shape by clamping steel in a vice and using a file, or on a bandsaw, with a jigsaw, or grind to shape
• file or grind in bevels, using a filing jig if hand filing, or a belt sander or grinder (look up filing jig on youtube)
• Heat treat, temper, then sand again (or send off for professional heat treating)
• Add fibre spacers, handle scales and pin stock, glue together
• Shape handle scales, then sand to at least 1000 grit sand paper
• Seal handle with oil, wax or similar

Heat treat instructions for 1084 Carbon Steel:

1084 is a  popular steel in knife making, being easy to heat treat. Heat the blade anyway you can to non-magnetic, then quench in luke warm canola oil. Temper in the stove for 200 C for 2 hours x 2 times and the blade is hardened and ready. If using temperature controlled equipment, heat the blade to 815-820 C and then quench. 

When the blade is hardened, sand or grind it again to get the scale off and sharpen.

From here on out it is basic knife making including attacing the scales and shaping the handle. Instructions: https://nordicedge.com.au/instructions-fulltang-knife/ 

This is the most complex build we offer and requires more work than the other kits.

You will be designing your own blade and cutting it out, grinding in the bevels (edges), and then heat treating it.

For more options in handle materials, fibre spacer colors, pin stock and other supplies, check out NordicEdge.com.au and to join the knife making network, join the Australian Beginner Knife Making Group on Facebook.