First O-1 mini knife under construction

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Here are some pictures, I bought a piece of O-1 tool steel and have been testing it with great success I found a way to use my Tormek to grind an accurate and even blade, much better then doing them by hand with flat stones. I hardened and then triple tempered it on my kitchen stove. More pictures when it's done
Carl

[CarverFromNoWhere]

The handle is still roughly shaped the wood is Bocote, I am very impressed with how easy the O-1 is to work much better the the Pfeil steel which seems brittle to me. The O-1 was very easy to temper and took a perfect temper three times one after another. It is crazy sharp like on a whole different level of sharpness then most knives. More pictures when I finish it hopefully this after noon, I really enjoy making these little knives it's a lot of fun for me .
Carl

[RUssL.]

Carl,

That's one serious looking little blade.
Well done.

Russ

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Another great job Carl ! Look forward to seeing it done.

Dave

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Thanks guys I think I can get about 7 or 8 blades this size from one piece of steel that costed about $28 shipped and then my time spent grinding them on the Tormek and it only takes a few minutes to harden and temper them, most of the time used is between grinding and polishing the handles don't take long.
Carl

[Dan C]

Carl - OK, you definitely have me interested! I've always wanted to make knives and small special shaped tools for special carving needs like the knife you're making here. It would be great if you could:

1. Describe the tempering process you do on your kitchen stove. I imagine it's pretty simple as you describe, but I just don't have the knowledge.

2. Provide some details on the steel you use and who you ordered it from.

3. I also have a Tormek, and have always thought that there needed to be a jig of some kind to sharpen small knives. It sounds like you came up with one. Could you provide some details?

Thanks Carl!

Dan C.

[Ron T]

Hi Carl,

Very nice blade. I've also made a couple of blades from 0-1 tool steel. I don't know too much about the tempering process though.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Thanks Ron, Dan I used the long knife jig svm-100 made by Tormek and when I ordered the steel I bought the long piece 18" so I have the extra length to hold it in the jig like so in the picture. Then just go about shaping it the same way you sharpen regular knives on the Tormek, I also have the regular knife jig and I have put a lot of hours onto these two jigs and can say I have mastered them.

The steel came from McMasterCarr link below to the steel I bought, I used 1/16" thick which is the thickness I like for knives this size by 1/4" wide and then 18" long. It comes i think they call it precision ground? and it's annealed so it is very soft when it arrives and ready to work.


I grind out the blade shape first and get it close to making an edge but i don't go all the way, once it's close to being sharp I harden then temper it by eye, another link I just found that explains it better then I can.

Once it's hard and tempered I got back to the Tormek being careful to line it back up in the jig the same SO BE SURE TO MARK IT BEFORE YOU START GRINDING! otherwise it can very hard to line it back up. Once it's lined back up fine grade your stone and finish the sharpening until your satisfied with it, then hone it up.

I ground the tang on a dry grinder the before hardening and try not to overheat it I like to leave the tang softer and also when I harden it I concentrate on hardening the blade and try not to get the tang.

Steel here
McMaster-Carr

Good site that explains O-1 steel
A Woodworker's Guide to Tool Steel and Heat Treating


I plan to order more O-1 it is very easy to work and with the Tormek even fun. I am going to talk with my uncle who is a machinist and see if he can help me come up with a jig for the Tormek just for this because the knife jigs do the job but are not made for this.
Carl

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Here is the jig set up and the finished mini knife.
Carl

[oregoncarver]

I was som impressed with the mini knives that I wanted one. 26.00 was to much so I decided to make one. I have a bunch of old industrial 1/8" drill bits and made a handle out of some myrtlewood and used epoxy to glue the shaft into the hole. This bits have the quick release type of head so they will hold in the wood just fine. Finished the knife two days ago and carving like mad with it. Will have to see if the edge holds. I shaped the blade on my 120 grit belt sander.

Arthur