My first project......

[Kevster]

I've ordered my first knife blank ,scales and pins from Jantz, but they won't be here till next week sometime.

So yesterday I decided to take one of my old kitchen knives and repurpose it, here's what I started with.



I found a pattern on the internet that I liked so I printed it and traced it onto the old blade.





I figure this free blade will cost me about $300, I bought a grinder yesterday, and I'm going to get a small drill press today...... The bright side is........ I'm getting a dremel for Christmas.

[Ray Rogers]

Yup, you're hooked. Nice job so far on that one ...

[Crex]

Good start. Appears to be stainless, have fun punching the holes.
Merry Christmas!

[Kevster]

Originally Posted by Crex

Good start. Appears to be stainless, have fun punching the holes.
Merry Christmas!

Punching the holes were a pain, I bought some titanium bits at northern tool, and they melted, is there a bit that will cut stainless?

I finally got through after ruining 4 bits. I has some red oak laying around so I used it for the scales. Keep in mind, I'm just practicing but I'm liking it so far.

[rockhound]

Originally Posted by Crex

Good start. Appears to be stainless, have fun punching the holes.
Merry Christmas!

agree.
That stainless is going to be really difficult to drill (and create bevels, etc) since it is likely heat-treated and pretty hard.
I learned this the hard way awhile back.
The kit will be an excellent learning tool!!
Merry Christmas!

[ricky_arthur]

Good job so far, I see several problems you are about to run in to, But You will definitely learn from the project and that will be fun.

[Kevster]

Originally Posted by ricky_arthur

Good job so far, I see several problems you are about to run in to, But You will definitely learn from the project and that will be fun.

If one is drilling the holes, I've already ran into that problem, I did however get through the metal but it wasn't easy. I've posted some pics of the knife with the pins I made in it, but a mod needs to approve them first.

What other problems do you think I will encounter?

[AUBE]

Originally Posted by Kevster

What other problems do you think I will encounter?

Drilling the holes in the handle slabs so there won't be a gap from the steel being beveled the entire length. Its doable, but will take a bit more finagling than if the tang was flat.