Tyger, I too, am working on / starting my first knife. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I haven't bought a drill press yet - I'm using a friends but I might head to Harbor Freight this weekend and pick one up. I also want to get a Dremel.

I can't add much to Snotpig's post - He is a pro and i'm a newb...but I'll contribute a few things i have learned. Buy your steel annealed - it makes things way easier. I plan to send mine out for HT but you don't have to if you feel comfortable HT;ing it yourself. If you are going to send it out - make sure you know what steels they will HT. BOS won't HT carbon steels anymore.

Some things I do that I can add to SP's post - I draw a center line around the perimeter of the blade so when I am grinding I can use it as a guide to get the grind even on each side. A trick I learned is to use a drill bit the same diameter as the steel thickness your using...for 1/8" steel - trace around the edge with a 1/8" drill bit while the bit and blade are on a perfectly flat surface - that should trace a line at 1/16". Turn the blade over and repeat in case the steel thickness isn't exact. I also trace my drawing on Masonite so I can keep the templates for later use.

Now, I have a question <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My fist knife is at the point where I need to put the blade grind on it and i want to do a full flat grind...It is 1/8" thick - How do I determine the grind angle to get it even on both sides?

Thanks and good luck to you Tyger - Lets both keep in touch and follow each other's progress. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I will help you with anything I can. I am using 1080 steel and as i mentioned, I have my blade profiled and am about to start the blade grind. Fun stuff! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />