looks great cant wait to see the finished product, keep us informed until then

Good job on your knives! I have to recommend cocobolo for the handles. I did a ferro rod with a cocobolo handle, sealed it with lacquer, and buffed it and it came out great! In the direct light it has a gold "shimmer" (for lack of a better term) that changes with the light. Here's how it looks without being in direct light:



The nice thing about cocobolo is that doesn't need to be stabilized due to the high oil content of the wood.

Again, good work and I can't wait to see the finished product!

You're gonna laugh at me; I got so tired of the run around I was getting from the metal supplier, I was feeling really depressed.

I work in a building next to the mechanics bay. On thursday, they were working on some of the MLVWs (One of the larger transport trucks we have). They were replacing the rear drop leaf springs! I saw this, and asked them what they were going to do with the old ones. Throw them in the metal bin out back. I asked them what the chances might be of one of them going into the back of my truck instead.

Bingo!

So, granted, I don't know what the metal is, and it's already forged and tempered, so it's a bugger and a half to cut through, I've got something to play around with. I'm hoping I'll be able to have it re-tempered; is that possible?

I guess you can understand why I had to switch to using an angle grinder to cut the template out now, eh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I still think this metal will be good; I just had to use my 3"x21" belt sander to get the dirt, paint, etc, off of it before cutting the blade out. I didn't find any rust on it at all, so that's promising. We'll see what we see.

That's cool. The only issue I see is without knowing the type of steel it might be hard to HT or re-temper. There are probably only a couple diffrent steels they use for leaf springs though...Maybe 5160 and S-7...?

If you are interested, I can recommend several online steel sources. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Let me know.

I went with 1080 for mine and it's working out great. Since it's my first knife, I'll be happy if it looks like a knife and will cut something. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I did have the blade HT'd and cryo'd to -310 deg (final RC of 57-58)so the 1080 should be tough enough.

Good luck, and keep posting your progress.

By all means, Knotslip, fire me off a PM with some sources for steel. When I start getting better at making knives, I'll want to be sure I'm using quality.

Thanks, and put up some pics of your progress as well; you've got me curious as to what yours looks like. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good looking designs Tyger, I think that was good fortune scoring that steel.
Perfect for the first knife. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Good steel for your first knife <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. Keep us posted-Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Looking good Pat - nice work! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Looking good tyger75 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> HI using leafsprings, nothing wrong with that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Nice design. Keep us posted.

Tyger- I sent the PM with online steel sources.

Here is a couple pics of my first knife. I got it back from HT and started grinding off the dark skin that HT leaves on it. I still have some sanding to do, then the handles and finally sharpening. I put it on the buffer just to see how 1080 would polish and it polishes nicely - but now i have to sand then re-polish.

Basics: 1/8" 1080 steel (HT'd and cryo'd to -300D+), my design (made it simple for first knife - wish I would of left out the choil as that just adds more difficulty)- full convex grind - Blade is 4" and handle around 4.5" - I draw it on graph paper then transfer to masonite - then to the steel, gonna use black Dymonwood for the scales.

That's about it. It's going okay so far for being my first attempt at this. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />







Later! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

nice job tyger and knotslip!!!! those both look really awesome! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

i like both of your designs!