What I actually do when a blade warped after quench
A blade warped after quench is common and often fixable. How I straighten one, when I let it go, what causes the warp, and how to keep the next one straight.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
Topic
Knife making
From first blade to a knife that holds an edge. Steel choice, heat treat, and the gear that matters, owner to owner.
How to make a knife from a file, and why I usually buy a bar instead
What a file is really made of, why no maker publishes the grade, and how I test one on a coupon before I make a knife from a file.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
The forge for knife making I would actually start you on
A propane forge for knife making from a hobby smith: why a single burner is enough for most blades, and three models weighed on published specs and owner reports.
August 17, 2026 · 12 min read
The knife making angle grinder I would actually start with
The knife making angle grinder I would hand a beginner, the specs that matter, plus the flap discs and safety habits that keep this tool from hurting you.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
The knife making grinder I would actually buy first, and the ones to skip
An honest look at the knife making grinder that earns its place in a home shop, from a cheap 1x30 starter to a real 2x72, and who each one suits.
August 5, 2026 · 14 min read
The knifemakers grinder I would build toward, and where to start
The knifemakers grinder most knife work is built on is a 2x72, but here is where to start if you cannot buy one yet, and what to skip.
August 5, 2026 · 12 min read
The power hammer for knife making I would buy, and the ones to skip
A plain look at the power hammer for knife making that fits a home shop, how to size ram weight, what it really costs, and the safety gear to set up first.
August 5, 2026 · 14 min read
The good belt grinder for knife making I would actually start with
A good belt grinder for knife making, from a 1x30 first buy to the 2x72 that is the real answer, with published specs and honest owner tradeoffs.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
The good belt sander for knife making I would actually start with
A plain guide to picking a good belt sander for knife making, from a 1x30 starting point to a 2x42 combo and a real grinder, with honest tradeoffs.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
The knife forging anvil I would actually buy, and the ones to skip
A blacksmith's honest take on picking a knife forging anvil: how hard the face needs to be, what weight to buy, and which anvils to skip.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
The knife forging power hammer I would buy, and the ones to skip
How I would size a knife forging power hammer for a home shop, which self-contained and air models earn the money, and the safety gear you need around it.
August 4, 2026 · 12 min read
The best belt grinder for knife making I would actually buy first
A blacksmith's honest picks for the best belt grinder for knife making, from a budget 1x30 starter to a real 2 inch variable speed grinder, with safety.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
The best belt sander for knife making, from the grinder up
An honest look at the best belt sander for knife making, from a cheap 1x30 to a 2x42 and an import 2x82, with specs, owner consensus, and safety.
August 3, 2026 · 14 min read
The best belt sander for knife making, and where to start
A blacksmith's honest picks for the best belt sander for knife making, from a budget 1 by 30 to a 2 by 72, with specs, owner reports, and safety.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
The knife making propane forge I would actually start with
A plain-spoken gear guide to picking a knife making propane forge, from single-burner starters to multi-burner units, with honest owner-consensus tradeoffs.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
The belt grinder for knives I would actually buy first
An honest belt grinder for knives guide: the 1x30, 4x36, and 2x72 machines I would point a beginner at, with specs, owner reports, and safety.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The 2x72 belt grinder for knife making I would actually start with
A plain 2x72 belt grinder for knife making guide: what matters in a motor, VFD, and platen, budget complete machines, and the premium picks worth saving for.
July 27, 2026 · 11 min read
Knife blacksmithing, explained from bar stock to finished blade
A plain owner to owner guide to knife blacksmithing: picking steel, forging the blade, heat treating it properly, grinding safely, and what gear you actually need.
July 24, 2026 · 13 min read
The belt grinder I would buy for knife making, and the ones I would skip
A gear guide to belt grinder knife making: what a 1 x 30, a 2 x 72 and a VFD chassis really give you, with published specs and honest owner reports.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The belt sander for knife making I would actually start with
Which belt sander for knife making is worth buying: 1x30, 1x42, 4x36 or a 2x72 grinder, compared on published specs, owner reports and the safety part.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
Blade smithing, explained from bar stock to finished edge
A plain owner to owner reference on blade smithing: steel choice, forging heat, normalizing, quenching and tempering, and the grinder mistakes that ruin blades.
July 23, 2026 · 13 min read
Bladesmithing, from a bar of steel to a blade that holds an edge
A plain walk through bladesmithing: choosing steel, forging shape, normalizing, quenching, tempering, and grinding an edge that actually cuts and lasts.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
The knife makers belt sander I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
Which knife makers belt sander is worth buying first, from a 4x36 combo to a 2x72, with published specs, real owner reports, and the safety notes that matter.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Knife making, explained from the first bar of steel
A plain owner to owner guide to knife making: stock removal versus forging, steel choice, heat treating, grinding safety, and what a first knife really takes.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The knife making kit I would hand a beginner, and the ones I would skip
An honest look at what a knife making kit includes, which type is worth your money as a first project, and what the box always leaves out.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
The railroad spike knife, honestly explained
A railroad spike knife is a great forging project and a poor cutting tool. What the steel can and cannot do, how to forge one, and how to make it actually cut.
July 22, 2026 · 13 min read