How to Make 'X-ACTO' Knives

On Mar 18, 6:43*am, "pintlar" wrote:

* * *Years ago ('50's) in one of the old Popular Science type mags there was
a 'readers speak'
article where a man made his own threading dies
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone who has had to make a die... or even chores as common-place
as making a leaf-spring ...knows we stand on the shoulders of those
who have gone before us.

When faced with such a chore I'll reach for a catalog ninety-nine
times out of a hundred. But it is how well we are able to accomplish
that hundredth chore -- something as simple as making a leaf-spring
for an old rifle, pistol or shot-gun -- that defines our abilities
as a machinist, gun-smith or what-have-you.

Nowadays, what with oil- and water-hardening steel available in an
almost infinite variety of thicknesses, widths and lengths, making
such a spring ENTIRELY from scratch is similar to being able to
fabricate shoes for a Shetland pony. Or even more tricky, for an ox
(!!).

Since being diagnosed as having cancer I know a lot of these skills
will die with me. That makes me almost as unhappy as the thought of
death itself.

-Bob

On Mar 16, 10:24*am, "Flash" wrote:
wrote in message

...

To All:

Often times we have the need to create small but accurate shapes in
metal or wood.

{{SNIP}}



Collect all of the blades in a shallow pan and cover them with an
eighth of an inch of motor oil. *Now set the oil on fire. *Allow the
fire to burn out. *It's going to be smokey as hell so you want to do
this outside of your shop. *When the fire goes out, tip the blades out
of the shallow pan onto a piece of iron and allow them to cool.

Once the blades have cooled you may continue with your sharpening.
They should take a razor edge. *If they crack, you've either left them
in the bomb too long or you've cooled them too fast. *The tempering
(ie, burning-off) should not effect the cracking one way or another.

Robert,
You are simply amazing. *Your directions fit right there with what all my
father attempted to teach so many years ago. *(The forge is long gone).

But the tempering process . . . is there a method less smoky and noxious?
For the faint of heart who live in an area where the neighbors are less
tolerant of *flames and smoke?

Thanks

Flash
(Yeah, my neighbors only put up with *a certain amount of disturbance, and
the Mayor is not exactly a personal friend)

Quench in used cooking oil, smokes but less fire, and anneal in a
toaster oven to around 460F.
http://www.caribooblades.com/makingahook.html
Karl

On Mar 20, 2:07*am, kfvorwerk wrote:
Quench in used cooking oil, smokes but less fire, and anneal in a
toaster oven to around 460F.http://www.caribooblades.com/makingahook.html
Karl -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Karl (and the Group),

Thank you VERY MUCH for pointing us toward some EXCELLENT information.

A constant problem with the Internet is that it is impossible to sort
the wheat from the chaff. Almost everyone has an opinion they are
eager to share but much of the time that information is flawed; often
not even tested by the person offering it up; something have only
HEARD about and which may be repeated incorrectly.

Go look at the site Karl mentions. This fellow knows his onions.

-R.S.Hoover

"Bob Hoover" wrote in message
...
On Mar 18, 6:43 am, "pintlar" wrote:

Years ago ('50's) in one of the old Popular Science type mags there was
a 'readers speak'
article where a man made his own threading dies
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone who has had to make a die... or even chores as common-place
as making a leaf-spring ...knows we stand on the shoulders of those
who have gone before us.

When faced with such a chore I'll reach for a catalog ninety-nine
times out of a hundred. But it is how well we are able to accomplish
that hundredth chore -- something as simple as making a leaf-spring
for an old rifle, pistol or shot-gun -- that defines our abilities
as a machinist, gun-smith or what-have-you.

Nowadays, what with oil- and water-hardening steel available in an
almost infinite variety of thicknesses, widths and lengths, making
such a spring ENTIRELY from scratch is similar to being able to
fabricate shoes for a Shetland pony. Or even more tricky, for an ox
(!!).

Since being diagnosed as having cancer I know a lot of these skills
will die with me. That makes me almost as unhappy as the thought of
death itself.

-Bob
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob,

You are going to live forever, if the internet has anything to say about it. THANK YOU for all the insights. It is up to
us to practice and learn...

Dan D.

"Dan D" wrote


Bob,

You are going to live forever, if the internet has anything to say about it.
THANK YOU for all the insights. It is up to us to practice and learn...

Dan D.

I second that.

Your online hints and such have gone into a folder marked "good stuff-how to's"
and I back it up, so I don't lose it in a crash.

You have made me think of many new possibilities. Shoot, I'm even sharing
things (like the carbon blade thread) with co-workers that is currently making
knives with his ag students. He is using old circular saw blades for the stock.
--
Jim in NC

On Mar 20, 3:12*am, Bob Hoover wrote:
On Mar 20, 2:07*am, kfvorwerk wrote:

Quench in used cooking oil, smokes but less fire, and anneal in a
toaster oven to around 460F.http://www.caribooblades.com/makingahook.html
Karl -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Karl (and the Group),

Thank you VERY MUCH for pointing us toward some EXCELLENT information.

A constant problem with the Internet is that it is impossible to sort
the wheat from the chaff. *Almost everyone *has an opinion they are
eager to share but much of the time that information is flawed; often
not even tested by the person offering it up; something have only
HEARD about and which may be repeated incorrectly.

Go look at the site Karl mentions. *This fellow knows his onions.

-R.S.Hoover

If you're interested in metalworking I recommend rec.*crafts.*
metalworking
There is a bit of politics and off topic stuff but the people know
what they're talking about as far as the metalworking part.
You're welcome.
Karl