How to Make Butter Knives

If you enjoy building stuff out of wood, you probably have scraps and cut-offs all over your shop. This project is a fun way to turn those scraps into beautiful wooden knives that can be used for butter or other soft spreads. You can make one of these knives in under an hour!
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If you make one of these, please post your pictures online and share it with me! I'd love to see how they turn out. Tag dnhandcrafted.
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Inspiration:
My original inspiration for this project (especially the chef knife style) was a pin I saw over a year ago. I tracked it down to an amazing woodworker from Poland, “I love nature”.
- Checkout the knives: / 964854130226301
- Checkout his website: www.ilovenature.pl
I am also very impressed with Linwood Handcrafted’s knives and cutting boards: linwoodco.com/collections/ute...
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Twitter: / dnhandcrafted
Instagram: / dnhandcrafted
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Website: dnhandcrafted.com
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Music Credits:
Country Cue 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@dakotamouse]

I had so much fun with this! I'm 62 and I haven't done any woodworking projects since the 6th grade. It did take about an hour. Girls watch out for that spay adhesive it's murder on a manicure job!

[@martinreilly6177]

This is my first KZbin comment - thanks for the inspiration - I was a grade A in woodwork at school and ended up doing computers for the last almost three decades, I've being looking for something to enjoy and wind down. Thank you, I now need to go out and buy a band saw and a sander.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Martin Reilly awesome! Working as a developer and designer is what eventually pulled me toward woodworking. Building something in the physical world vs only the virtual is a good feeling.

[@susanp.collins7834]

I don't have a shop so I don't have scraps lying around - but by golly I know where to get hold of UNLIMITED scraps. Don't have a bandsaw either. But recently I made my first spoon without ANY of the socially accepted carving tools except my SAK. Now I have a deep desire to make my own knife and fork. And bowl. And mug. By the way, my spoon is the most beautiful spoon in the whole history of wooden spoons.

[@jerryklingbeil6222]

Good video. Straight forward, informative and I like the encouragement offered by the host.

[@garreb7]

Enjoyed the Video, it was just what I was looking for. Thanks for taking the extra time to supply drawings.

[@jamesbraun9967]

Made this as a gift for friends. Great instruction, great project.

[@tharemyhopkins5873]

This is an awesome alternative to the standard cutting board for scraps! I smell some quick Christmas gifts! Great video.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thank you Tharemy! My first two knives were actually made as Christmas gifts, so I wholeheartedly agree. Those projects I have pictures of on my site: dnhandcrafted.com/project/cherry-board-and-knife/ and dnhandcrafted.com/project/walnut-board-and-knife/

[@joecnc3341]

Great Video Doug! You are a natura born teacher - please continue posting woodworking and Fusion 360 How-To Videos!

[@lclement4]

These are beautiful.

[@damasydia]

So awesome, very happy I came across this video

[@Tiny_Island_Designs]

Thank you, great designs, I'm going to try today.

[@nava1uni]

Real nice video, nice flow and clear directions. Thanks a lot

[@dustinjohnson4758]

Great video! Thanks for the great information and patterns.

[@danbrock3439]

Great video! I can't wait to.get started on.my own.

[@Jesse-le9bh]

Thanks for the video and the templates. Both very helpful.

[@anthonybatson4881]

This is awe inspiring! So well put together, excellent editing and your natural story telling is a gift. Can't wait to try this.

[@DNHandcrafted]

+anthony batson Thanks man, I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment. Hope you enjoy the process, and hit me up on Instagram or Facebook to share a pic of you make them!

[@gopro4it]

Thank you for this perfectly descriptive video!!

[@thomaskuzia8125]

Thanks for the helpful video and free templates! Just what I was looking for,,,,,,,,,,

[@FullSailDale1]

Another great job, Doug! Thanks!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks for the encouragement Dale!

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Can't believe I hadn't watched any of your videos yet...this was awesome! Definitely hitting the subscribe button!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks for the encouraging words Ethan!! And for the sub too!

[@faun1630]

So "easy", but still so advanced and super elegant knives. My relatives are lucky to have a grandpa that will make only homemade Christmas gifts this Christmas! Thanks to your superb description, I will make sets of four knives and put them in a smart little wooden box! Thank you very much!

[@DNHandcrafted]

You sound like a wonderful grandpa!! I’m glad you found my video useful and will be making some as gifts. Thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know!

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

Great video! Very well explained, good pacing and the production quality is enviable. -Caleb Harris

[@DNHandcrafted]

YouCanMakeThisToo thank you so much for the encouragement. It was a pleasure meeting you tonight and chatting - and your advice was spot on.

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

Great meeting you too, I look forward to seeing more from you!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

Man, great video style and edit! Looks super professional! I'm very impressed, keep these coming and your channel is going to do well!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Third Coast Craftsman thanks man! I appreciate it! I really wanted to check out your sliding dovetail build, but have to run out so it's queued for later! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@ThirdCoastCraftsman]

DN Handcrafted yea man let me know what you think if you get a chance to watch!

[@wakelywanderer12]

Very cool. Thanks for the templates, just in time for some handmade gifts. Subscribed.

[@TedAlexander24]

Totally cool knives Doug. And great work on the video.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Ted Alexander thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! They are really fun to make.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

Nice work thanks

[@garthwunsch]

I have some Ironwood I harvested about thirty years. Awesome knives coming up. Thank you muchly! :-)

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Garth Wunsch those are going to be stunning! And you are welcome!

[@3Godfree]

Great project, thank you Doug.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Sam! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CraftsWithEllen]

Great project! You explained it very clearly. Now I just need a bandsaw... I'll put this one on the 'to do when I have a proper shop' list ;)

[@DNHandcrafted]

Crafts With Ellen I picked that bandsaw up for $150 used. Hope you can find a similar deal!

[@LLUEVE]

Great video. Gonna makes some great knives and cuttings boards for friends and family this Christmas!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+MakeItRainLL Awesome! That make fantastic gifts. Would love to see how they turn out!

[@LutherBuilds]

Just subbed to your channel. Awesome stuff, Doug.

[@jeremyb.1977]

Great video and a good idea to use wood scraps to make something useful. I am thinking about making a few of these for family members for Christmas. Thank you for sharing! - Jeremy

[@DNHandcrafted]

You are welcome! I bet your family members will love it! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@FishersShop]

Wow nicely done. That walnut knife is stunning. Great job and thanks for posting. I just got done doing something very similar on my site with a spalted maple wooden spoon. Followed much of the same steps. I guess great minds think alike. :) You got a new sub from me. Looking forward to your next project.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Fisher's Shop thanks Drew and thanks for the sub! Excited to see your dowel centers video later.

[@vladimircordas9739]

Thank toy for free templates

[@blackhorse2947]

Great ideas for Christmas……… Thank you

[@hankpirelli74]

I am glad to let you know that I enjoyed your video, and tomorrow I will make 2 butterknives!! That bagel looked good.....

[@DNHandcrafted]

Fantastic! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with the build! Hope you have fun and they turn out well!

[@billconnelly4459]

Good video and thanks for the free template!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Bill Connelly thanks Bill and you are welcome!

[@thompoz7114]

Nice project, and fun video to watch.

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Thom Poz thank you!

[@etnoord]

Nice project and video thanks for the templates

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Tom! And you are welcome!

[@michaelgovers8036]

Hi Dough, what a simple but interesting video, I could watch you all day, it was so relaxing thank you for sharing ;)

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Michael! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@bravoedc8081]

Great !

[@robsiklos]

Great video - thanks for the templates!! Will be making some sets of these as gifts for sure! Question about the finish - how to you measure the ratio for the oil/wax finish? By weight or by volume? Thanks again!

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

This was really grate especially the water trick!!!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@NuManXplore]

Great video! Super quality footage, editing and info. I can't believe you don't have 1000% more subs than you do. I am definitely going to try this project, thanks for sharing!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+NuManXplore wow, thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and I hope your knives turn out great! Btw, your comment was nice enough to get the “read out loud to my wife” treatment.

[@NuManXplore]

DN Handcrafted Hah, read outloud to your wife huh? Awesome! Looking forward to more of your videos.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Great video! These knives are really cool. I think I will make some. I found your channel from Jay Bates. Definitely subscribed.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Bruce A. Ulrich thank you! I'm so thankful to Jay for sharing my videos. I'd love to see how your knives turn out!

[@meganjoyce5351]

Love your video!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Megan! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment!

[@evanmeader7139]

Thank you so much man I made one myself and it is so cool

[@DNHandcrafted]

Awesome! I’m so glad you made one too!!

[@81Logansk]

Very nice project. Going to make some for my friends for Father's Day and finish them with beeswax from my own hives. Nice touch, huh? Thanks.

[@DNHandcrafted]

David Faber thanks and that sounds awesome. Jealous. How do you like bee keeping? We live out in the country and its crossed my mind a few times.

[@petermackenzie437]

6:15 YAY! Great video very catchy desinngns loking formard for more

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thank you so much!!

[@DebbieDoesDesign]

Great video! You put a lot of time into editing that, I can tell! Well done! Now, I really want a bagel.... :)

[@DNHandcrafted]

Sweet Pea Woodworking & Decor Thank you so much! And... It's always a good time for a bagel :)

[@davidreimers5825]

DN Handcrafted np!

[@YanBousquet]

You had me at « cream cheeze » 👍

[@julio.a.arango]

great video, great knives. I subscribed...

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Julio A Arango thank you! Glad to have you along for the journey!

[@KarpelProductions]

Had to subscribe after this video. Next project goal!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Javytls thank you!! Love to hear how they turn out for you!

[@noahgosiaco8870]

great video!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Noah!

[@johnneiner3170]

Great thoughts here. Now I know what to do with all those scraps that litter the workshop!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks John, I've appreciated all your support on this journey!

[@jonrus07]

Great video! Simple, informative, and a nice gift-idea project. Any chance you'll do one on a quick and easy method to create wood spoons? Look forward to more of your videos.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Russ thank you! I've only made one spoon, and would love to make more at some point. So you never know. I don't have that as one of my next few projects though.

[@RacinZ28]

I found you based on Drew Fishers video where you made him a new logo. He said to check you out so I did and I subscribed too. I just downloaded the butter knife template and I'm looking forward to making some as gifts. Great video.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks for watching and stopping by! Glad you found me through Drew - he is a great guy and has an awesome channel.

[@taboo9025]

Great video

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thank you! And thanks for the suggestion of a cheap bandsaw on the other comment too!

[@BarefootBushcraft]

Awesome video my friend! I also make wooden art :) Keep up the amazing work. I'm a new supporter :)

[@JolienBrebels]

Hey, nice video and a nice butter knive! You have a new subscriber! :)

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Jolien Brebels Thank you so much! I have one of your wooden car videos queued up to watch later. I've wanted to make some wooden cars one of these days!

[@JolienBrebels]

Oh that's great! Making wooden toy cars is so much fun!

[@oswaltedmund6257]

Great project!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Oswalt Edmund thank you! Hope you get a chance to make some!

[@oswaltedmund6257]

Doug I really liked your video. Its well edited and you are excited about it the content. I watch a lot of how to videos and am a avid wood worker; I have a sawmill and cut my own lumber so I know thing about wood and large amount of scraps. Right now I am turning a 1950 chicken coop 24 x 60 into my new workshop. I have sawn the siding and everything to turn it back into a usable space. I always end up with tons of scraps. Your narration of the video was excellent. I can't wait to watch some more of your videos!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Oswalt Edmund wow! Your project sounds amazing! Do you have process pics posted online somewhere? I love finding a use for small scraps around the shop, and it sounds like you have plenty. Thanks for encouragement about my videos too! I’m slowly but surely getting the next project built and filmed :)

[@The-narrow-gate]

how do you make the beeswax/mineral oil

[@bradg8664]

Great knives, already made one and I'm looking for some nicer wood to make more. Do you have the plans for the table saw push block you were using? Thanks

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Brad! I'm thrilled you made one. If you end up posting them online, be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook (dnhancrafted on both platforms) so I can see them! I love that push stick… and I can do one better than plans! It is Jay Bates' design, and he has a whole video on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWrSqqdonM9jm80

[@bradg8664]

Perfect, that's exactly what I need

[@danehawk64]

What grit sandpaper are you using on the belt sander?

[@DNHandcrafted]

I’m pretty sure it was 120, but it’s been a long time since I filmed this! I normally have 80 or 120 on the belt sander.

[@bobcrane2103]

If you would place some blue tape on the wood first and then attach the pattern, that would greatly help pattern removal on the wood.....i do a lot of scroll sawing and this works really well....

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks Bob! I can see how that would work much better! I’ll give that a try next time, thank you!

[@maryfetch8198]

I think I can do this!

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

Wait... you mix your own mineral oil and beeswax... YOU CAN DO THAT???? WHATTTT. and you just heat it up and melt it in a tiny crockpot? What? I have learned so many things from one video... Thank you so much!! Consider me Subbed man!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Dylan's DIY Workshop haha! Glad you found tips you could use! That mini crockpot is perfect for it, but if you need to make it in a hurry a double boiler on the stove melts it much faster. Thanks for the kind words!!

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

I'll have to give it a shot! I actually have a huge block of beeswax here beside my desk, I've never used it for anything lol. I also really want to make butter knives now. If I make a video, Ill be sure to credit you for inspiring me!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Dylan's DIY Workshop oh awesome! That would be great if you make some and film it! Good luck!

[@ericburres2875]

Very nice. Your link, though, to the templates is wrong. You forgot the .com after dnhandcrafted. Add that and the page shows up.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Thanks for letting me know Eric! I fixed the link.

[@piergiovannicardone5468]

Bravissimo, non ho capito che tipo di olio usi per la finitura.

[@DNHandcrafted]

"Very good, I did not understand what kind of oil you use for finishing." I used first mineral oil (meant for use by humans), then a blend of mineral oil and beeswax. However, if mineral oil makes you feel uncomfortable, you can use any food safe finish. Via Google Translate: Ho usato il primo olio minerale (inteso per uso umano), quindi una miscela di olio minerale e cera d'api. Tuttavia, se l'olio minerale ti fa sentire a disagio, puoi utilizzare qualsiasi finitura alimentare sicura.

[@mrlafayette1964]

so the finish you used makes it waterproof when cleaning it?

[@DNHandcrafted]

+mrlafayette1964 It’s not water proof but it helps keep the wood from drying out during washing. It wears off and needs to be reapplied, but it’s not hard to do.

[@rohitsethi7306]

Nice knifes though!!

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Rohit Sethi thanks you!

[@HardDeck]

But are they dishwasher safe?

[@grod0051]

Beautiful knives. Do you sell them and if so, how much?

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Christine Davis thank you! I don’t have any for sale currently. I may in the future, but not sure the price yet.

[@cardin701]

I love the video and the finished product is gorgeous but it drives me crazy how many "simple home projects" start with "first go to your $600 bandsaw, then your $300 belt sander..." I've got hand tools and a detail sander, that's it! It would be great to have some projects which are *really* for people with entry-level kit!

[@DNHandcrafted]

Hey, glad you enjoyed the video and final product. It doesn’t negate the point you were making, but in my case: it is a bandsaw that is older than I am I bought used for $150 and a belt sander I think I spent around $53 on at harbor freight. It takes time to acquire tools, but there are often several different ways to accomplish something.

[@grod0051]

How would I make these without all of the woodworking tools you have?

[@DNHandcrafted]

Hi Christine. If you purchased 1/4" stock, you could cut out the blade and handle, then cut out the scales (handle sides) to go on either side of the blade. All three of those could be cut with a coping saw. Then just glue the scales onto the blade, and use sandpaper to do final shaping. In that way you could really pull it off with just a coping saw and some sandpaper. Otherwise, most of what I did could be done with hand tools or far fewer tools than I used in this video - albeit with more work involved.

[@taboo9025]

You could pick up a used table top band saw for under 100 bucks that would cut material for knives. lots on line for sale.

[@rohitsethi7306]

Why didn’t you use edible oil instead of mineral?

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Rohit Sethi The way I understand it, oils like olive oil or canola can go rancid and so I wouldn’t personally use those on these knives. The mineral oil I️ used was intended do be ingested so it should be safe even if some transferred to the food. Do you have any suggestions on an oil I could have used?

[@schwarzarne]

Mineral oil, yummy.

[@Barbara_Schulz]

That’s cheating! I carve by hand. 😂😂👍

[@mrglikos]

είσαι έλληνας ? είδα τρως γιαούρτι

[@DNHandcrafted]

Χαχα όχι. Αλλά μου αρέσει το ελληνικό γιαούρτι!

[@MaybeDave]

Great knife and video, but why bring religion into it?

[@DNHandcrafted]

+Maybe Dave great question! It’s a few things. It’s an effort to keep my focus beyond myself and a single video I am making. My faith influences a large part of who I am, and I’m honestly not sure how that should play into what I produce. So the single scripture reference at the end of the video is what I have until I figure that out. That verse talks about doing what you do for the Lord and not for men.

[@DNHandcrafted]

Sorry about the goofy characters my phone was inserting. They were just the letter I. I’ve edited the comment to remove them.