Making a Drop Point Hunting knife, without the use of a belt grinder

[@Mark--Todd]

Absolutely 1st class. 48k views and only 1,2k likes seems somewhat rude to me given the quality of this video

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the compliment. I try to produce decent quality...and am thankful for the views I get. Not sure how to bump it up though. Oh well, time will tell I suppose.

[@Narahari-nt7uc]

Отличные видео. Без лишней информации и заумных слов. Все по делу. Первый свой нож делал подсматривая этапы создания ножа у вас.

[@zeemanknives]

Спасибо за добрые слова. Всегда приятно слышать, что мои видео помогают другим создать свой первый нож.

[@omphemetsematshidiso4984]

Amazing vid brother. Straight to the point.

[@jasonhojnacki2234]

This was the best video on the subject of knife making I have ever watched. Thank you so much

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the comment!

[@gregnutt9918]

This the best instruction video, I have seen, yet

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the comment!

[@SuperPanzer01]

Great Video Thank you

[@borneo4x4]

Thanks for the video. I started watching about 3 weeks ago and now I've made 5 knives with basic tools including an angle grinder. I'm eyeing a belt sander now.

[@zeemanknives]

Well done! 5 knives in 3 weeks...thats an impressive count. Glad to help!

[@JohnDoe-df2zz]

Very informative for anyone who wants to try making a knife without buying equipment.

[@DougieNMySnuggy]

i have the cheap HF 1x30 belt grinder. I've modified it to be more suitable for my knives. I've learned how to freehand bevels with it. I can make a decent looking knife with the crappy belt grinder. HOWEVER, knife making is therapeutic for me. And there's nothing more therapeutic than putting on some tunes, zoning out the rest of the world, and hand filing bevels.

[@zeemanknives]

Yes that is true...hand filing, and hand sanding tends to leave you to your thoughts. And, you learn to use the tools you have at hand. I remember when I first got my 2x72 belt grinder, I thought to myself now I am going to produce knives at a lightning pace, only to very quickly realize that freehand grinding is a skill that needs to learned, and no machine regardless of quality will teach you how to do that...it's still something that I sometimes don't get right....hand files on the other hand...you cannot go wrong with it...:)

[@tamimamini7446]

Your videos are very informative and easy to follow. Keep up the good work and inspire everyone else just like you inspired me.

[@zeemanknives]

Glad to hear that! Happy knifemaking!

[@TheGarner77]

Always something to learn, we often take for granted the technologies we have.... South Africa on the other hand, look our power away due to "Load shedding" we just have to adapt. Thanks for awesome content sir.

[@zeemanknives]

Yes, loadshedding its part of our reality. Gotta learn to use those hand tools!

[@KenMoss-music]

Great job..thanks for making this video.

[@geneclayton2467]

Great video, makes me actually want to try this. Thanks

[@BeardieFPV]

Excellent video! Ive been wanting to get started in forging and knife making and this video tipped me over the edge. Thank you!

[@jasonwood7340]

When quenching if you dunk in an up and down motion it will help keep the blade from warping. Great video, it's nice to see someone using hand tools :)

[@paulmendolia8483]

One of the most complete instructional videos I have ever seen and I have seen hundreds. At least you dont have that awful head banging music in the background. Excellent.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the feedback! Glad you enjoyed it! Regards

[@tiagobrasil5910]

Excellent video and excellent teaching. What a wonderful knife. God bless you. Thank you very much.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the comment!

[@Cptnbond]

Amazing episode, and perfectly easy to follow along. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@zeemanknives]

My pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@mikemolina949]

Always a pleasure watching your videos! Please keep making more like this ! Very inspiring and very Informative! Thank you for the content

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for taking the time to watch my content. I really appreciate that! Glad you find it useful! Keep well!

[@billhayward1585]

Great Video. Very easy to follow. I'm slowly building up my confidence to give knife making a try. Thank you.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the comment! Build one knife, no matter what the end result might be...you will learn alot from it. Then move to the second...

[@toddhatten354]

Excellent video. Very informative and easy to follow. Thank you for this.

[@rayellgeral9065]

Great video Henk, thanks for the effort!!!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you Ray, I appreciate the support!

[@Trav261]

I really enjoyed watching this, you made it look so easy and the instructions are very easy to follow. thank you! 🙂

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching, glad you like it. Its a practice thing...do it over and over again and it becomes easy.

[@patrick6087]

You’re quite talented. Thanks for sharing such a timeless practice of craftsmanship.

[@zeemanknives]

Thenk you for the conpliment. It is only my pleasure to share it with you.

[@hdpei3502]

My favorite channel, I have learned a lot from it, and I look forward to more updates.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, I enjoy comments like these. Glad you like my content!

[@kennethomeara9848]

Beautiful work. Thank you

[@snakeplissken3061]

Sometimes the simple processes are best. Excellent video and great looking knife. Well done, sir.

[@zeemanknives]

I agree...you cannot go wring with the basics. Thank you for watching!

[@lumberjack0101]

damn this is exactly what I’m looking for!

[@simonwoll]

Great video! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙏

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Glad you like it!

[@Strohann501]

Great video!! Everything super detailed, very good explanation about why you do what you do. Helps a lot!

[@zeemanknives]

Glad you found it useful. Keep well!

[@DaveMcGill-o7z]

Very Very Informative ! Many Thanx for your expertise !

[@jonathang.5092]

Fantastic craftsmanship. I really learned a lot from this. I've made about 5 knives now, but nothing as nice as this.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching. Keep on making knives...you see an improvement with everyone you make.

[@TexasPatriot79]

I bought a cheap belt grinder and I really struggle with grinding the blades..but I tried your file and eye-bolt method. Even though it takes FOREVER, it produces the BEST grinds ever! Thank you for the inspiration!

[@zeemanknives]

Try combining the two. Take off the bulk of the metal with the grinder, then finish on the filing jig. Free hand grinding takes alot of practice, and depending on the blade shape can be very frustrating to get right. I also dont always get it right...and I hate wasting material because of messed up grinds.

[@addappt]

Beautiful process and great video to watch. True craftsmanship and attention to detail. Great work.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. I appreciate the comment.

[@NMWanderings]

One of the best knife making videos I have ever seen! I may use your pattern, but try making it out of an old file instead (using a grinder, not files, obviously). This will be the first knife I have made in 50+ years.

[@zeemanknives]

Welcome back to knivemaking. This pattern will work nicely with an old file, and it is not a complicated design, so perfect for getting back into knifemaking! Thank you for the comment!

[@WorkerDroid]

Beautiful knife. Straight to the action for every step. Very inspiring for the average guy to try and do as well. Great job on the video and the knife. Thank you and congratulations..

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you! Happy you find it usefull!

[@ashishsawant6403]

Nice informative video. Thanks !! Love from India 👍

[@zeemanknives]

Glad you liked it!

[@nathanaelcole7102]

Great video! I really appreciate the simplicity of your process, jigs, and fixtures...thank you!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Yes, that is the point I am trying to bring across. You need need expensive machines to make a knife.

[@DanHelfond]

Thank you for this. It was clear, concise, and exceptionally informative. Very well done!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@tb8249]

One of the best videos I have seen, explained in very detail, good work!!👌👍👌👍🔪🔪🔪🔪

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. I appreciate the comment!

[@abumamun2503]

You Very Good Engineer

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@davemcnair1569]

best explained vidio i have seen thank you

[@zeemanknives]

Glad you liked it

[@edharker5775]

Stunning results as usual

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you Mr. Harker

[@kiwich66]

Great video. You make it look so easy, and the result is amazing. Very motivating. Thanks!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching. Glad you liked it!

[@neilhaddifon3225]

Great video I really learned alot from it, thank you.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching. Glad you could learn from it!

[@040cleaning6]

Very well explained m8

[@amitbhattachariya9357]

You are very innovative.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@MASI_forging]

Outstanding work. The knife looks cool.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching!

[@Roger21989]

Great tutorial, well done!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Appreciate you watching!

[@Tromps04]

Awesome tutorial as always and your video transitions are top notch!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Well, I try to make it as seamless as possible.

[@shaungill6992]

Excellent mate thank you

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@EdGolding-h6k]

Great Video ! I am also using 1084 and struggling with plunge lines. I agree that the 1084 is forgiving and easier to work with. Two thingsI found helpful from this video is using an oil while sanding the the use of the correct round file with a file guide. Henk has been so helpful in answering questions while I make my first knife. I need to hurry up and get one done, he has asked me twice to see a finished knife. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement.

[@zeemanknives]

Its a practice thing. Take a piece of scrap steel and just file plunge lines. You will get it right.

[@laca8612]

Really Thank you for your video. It was spot on and well created, good explanation! :)

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikafoxx2717]

Best tip is to start with thin stock. Nothing worse than grinding edge bevels in really thick steel. Remember, thinness is sharpness. Starting with 1mm steel will give you a much sharper knife for kitchen use or such, even if you don't get perfect bevels it'll be thin enough to not get in the way. Knives dont need to be as thick as you think, given you get the heat treatment right! Toughness matters a lot on heat treatment quality, hardness is easy to get and almost irrelevant to its toughness. Heat the steel only until it's not magnetic and no further, then quench in water if you don't have parks 50, cooking oil won't harden 1060/75/80/84/95/W1 etc. only O1 or 52100 would harden well enough in home oils thanks to hardenability slowing additives, unless the knife is very thin already like I suggest, though you also need to be careful that it doesn't cool too much before quenching or it also won't harden fully. You can put it in your freezer immediately after quench for a slightly harder blade. Then temper it at 300-400f twice in a toaster oven with a cooling in between them. 300f for hard as possible, and 400f for tough as possible. Steel choice matters most for this, soft 1095 will never be as tough as fully hard 5160. That will give you the hardest, toughest combination possible from basic steels without a specialized heat treating kiln.

[@keithwarne9469]

Lekker vid boet baie dankie😊

[@pawekozielski2422]

When hardening in carbon, I would use a steel section with a rectangular cross-section. Once warmed up, I would insert the blank. This is how I would create a hardening chamber. The color of the shape allows you to additionally assess the temperature. This also reduces the risk of steel burning. I wouldn't delay letting go either. During this time, the steel consolidates its crystalline structure. Immediately after hardening, just to be on the safe side, I would place the blank between 2 flat bars and squeeze it until it cools down. The blank is plastic for about 2 minutes after hardening. This would correct the curvature. Any stress before tempering causes the risk of the blank breaking

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the advice. Keep well!

[@radekbubienko6042]

Thanks, very useful video. :)

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@jmunsamy]

Great detailed content, highly appreciated. Would like a video about your background and how you got into the hobby. Also if you could share who you look up to or others in trade that currently inspire you.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching. I am a bit camera shy, but it is something worth looking into to. The audience can let me know what questions I need to answer for them.

[@grantudemans6381]

Fantastic vid .. thanks

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. Glad you liked it!

[@snell0710]

Cool video I could totally do some small knives that way

[@zeemanknives]

Yes, this process works well with small knives.

[@mikenorris6769]

Your videos are very good, I am making all my knives pretty much by hand, I first used large circular saw blades from sawmill but now I' trying 1084. I can't believe how much easier it is to work with! I have been trying to file my plunge lines with round file but they never seem to come out that great, I will keep trying though, I'm sure I will get it! eventually!

[@zeemanknives]

It is a practice thing...just keep trying, and you will get it. Do you use a file guide clamp? If not spend the time and make yourself one, or you get commercially available ones but it tends to be very expensive. That simplifies getting your plunge lines symmetrical on both sides. Grab a piece of mild steel flat bar and spend a day just filing in plunge lines to get a feel for it.

[@mikenorris6769]

@zeemanknives That's very helpful, I have actually made a file guide clamp so will do do exactly as you say and practice on some scrap steel until I master it,cheers

[@thorwaldjohanson2526]

Saw blades will have a heat treat, while 1084 or any steel stock for that matter is annealed. This makes it MUCH easier to work with. Annealed steal is like 5-20 hrc, while heat treated steel is usually 50-68 hrc.

[@mikenorris6769]

@@thorwaldjohanson2526 That's great information, thanks, (I only just saw your message!)

[@thorwaldjohanson2526]

@@mikenorris6769 you can also anneal hardened steel yourself, make the knife and then heat treat it again.

[@eloylobatoneto]

Show! Gostei desse novo modelo de vídeo narrado.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, appreciate the comment!

[@THErickuss]

This makes me want to go to Walmart

[@peteremerson4150]

Nice !😀👍

[@zeemanknives]

Thanks! 👍

[@d-arts7139]

very nice

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@sergeykuvshinov6194]

Perfect!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@mikenorris6769]

That is a great video, I value your tutorials and learn so much from them! Could you please tell me what thickness (in metric) you like to leave on knife edge when doing bevels? Also, should I start process with coarse file for quicker removal then switch to a second cut file to finish, or, do you use same file for whole process, Thanks

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the comment. I try to get the edge to about 1mm before I heat treat. I used to start with a coarse file but I found that the deep file marks are very hard to remove...so nowadays I do everything with a medium cut file. The time "saved" by using coarse file is not really worth the time hand sanding afterwards.

[@cultivationplus6719]

You can achieve the rounded transition in the bevel from the plunge by moving the belt slightly over the edge. However much over the edge the belt sits translates to how round of the plunge you get. Thats if your using a 2x72 that is

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the tip!

[@Sokol10]

Nice knife, but laborious making process. Well make video.

[@zeemanknives]

It is time consuming, but I find it rewarding. Thank you for watching!

[@dardoheron5478]

tendria que estar en español x que me gustaria entender que esplica ya que pienzo que es muy importante gracias

[@Yunesko24]

SUPER 👍👍👍 SUPER

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching!

[@J.M.Bracero88]

It's not gonna look pretty? That knife looks gorgeous!

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you...well you know....its no showpiece, but very functional.

[@Eddy-Bryan]

Do you have a video or dimensions for your filing jig?

[@zeemanknives]

Send me a mail at [e-mail] and I can send you pictures.

[@Jordy-v8b]

Hello my friend, i like your vids. Question at minute 22:42 you are rounding your handles. Do you you use a half-round file are a regular rectangle bastert!!

[@zeemanknives]

Hi, i use a flat file on the handle, and a half round file in the rounded sections like the the finger choil and inside of the handle. I prefer medium cut files as bastard file can be aggresive and cause nasty scratches.

[@gaylecoombs5510]

Do you have a video on your channel on your file guide setup your using?

[@zeemanknives]

@@gaylecoombs5510 no i dont unfortunatly, but drop me a mail at [e-mail] and ill send you pics

[@gaylecoombs5510]

@@zeemanknives thank you

[@bbarker5766]

Awesome simple design with nice crisp lines!! What is the sharpener that you used?

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. That is a "Warthog Multi-edge" sharpener im using. Local product to South Africa.

[@hammertusk]

Hi man nice video I don't know much about knife making but I liked the video For tempering, you want a orange hot, not white/yellow, not gray. The spine has to be dimmer than red because you want resistance not strength. Basically, do the opposite of 26:09. Anyways butterfly knife would be pre cool!!!!

[@nickthompson529]

I think you’re talking about hardening not tempering. If you heat the blade orange hot during tempering you will ruin the hardness of the blade.

[@zeemanknives]

I usually temper in a dark room to accurately judge the metal colours. It looks much different under a bright light. For the 10xx series and 5160 metals, critical temp is usually around a red colour. Still, always test with a magnet, and of course if you have a kiln with accurate temp sensors then you cannot go wrong.

[@nickthompson529]

Again I think you’re confusing tempering and heat treating.

[@zeemanknives]

@@nickthompson529 Yes you are right...wrong terminology from my side. I heat treat in a dark room to judge the colours of the steel, tempering happens in the kitchen oven.

[@andreykotovsky]

I have a question, can you gring already hardened steel with a file? I mean if ill buy blank of a knife, is it possible to remove big amount of material from hardened steel?

[@zeemanknives]

Not with a hand file I'm afraid. You will blunt the file very quickly without much progress if the steel is hardened already. A belt grinder will be a better option in that regards, or you can anneal the blank and re-harden after filing.

[@andreykotovsky]

@@zeemanknives ok, thanks for reply 🙂

[@Semerich_Knives]

Отлично 👍

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for watching!

[@JohnDoe-sw4kg]

Man this was awesome. What was that sharpener you used?

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you. That is a Warthog Multi-edge sharpener. Local product to South Africa.

[@tracykooken2606]

just out of curiosity what is the totak amount of time put into this ???? where did you get your metal . do work 'haeder' blade steel ?? and longer ??? a beauy of a true " hand " made knife !!!!❤

[@zeemanknives]

Its hard to keep track of the exact amount of time that I put into a knife, as I work on it over several days...but depending on the size of the knife it can be anywhere from 20 to 40 hours total time. I buy my steel from a local supplier in South Africa, @zeesknifesupplies. I always work with soft unhardened steel, and heat treat it to harden it. If you work with hand files then its difficult to work with hardened steel.

[@harisbudiwicaksono6112]

How do you make the line in the tip ?

[@zeemanknives]

Hi, sorry I am not sure which line you are referring to?

[@harisbudiwicaksono6112]

​@@zeemanknivesthe line in 4:55

[@abdolrezaakbari4090]

👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@blacklight4460]

Use cutting oil for drilling and sawing.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you, yes it saves the drill bits from wearing out too quickly.

[@MWard-zk4wg]

The flickering at the beginning hurts my eyes. Otherwise a most excellent video

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the feedback. I will tone it tone a bit in the future.

[@JoseMarquez-o9u]

está interesante, pero en español, por favor, gracias.

[@madeleineventer667]

Are Jo in Bloemfontein

[@zeemanknives]

No, Im based in Johannesburg.

[@thorhammer816]

Bei einem Messer ,ist die Klinge länger wie der Griff ,😊

[@Dutcharmytent]

I don’t have that much time to do what you did, it’s more cost effective just to buy a knife now.

[@zeemanknives]

I understand time is always an issue. And what you say is the truth. But I love doing this, so I make time....even 15 minutes a day adds up to a completed knife over a few days.

[@mikafoxx2717]

Perhaps, but most knives are poor quality compared to what you can make, unless you buy an expensive knife you will not get comparable quality to a good homemade knife.

[@maniac8246]

👍👏👏👏

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you!

[@NuritheTurk]

The strobbing light show may be dangerous to epileptic folks.

[@zeemanknives]

Thank you for the feedback...Ill tone it down in the future.

[@helmutgath2895]

Ich arbeite mit Maschinen um mir die Arbeit zu erleichtern und um Geld zu verdienen.😊

[@zeemanknives]

Yes, that is the goal of every knifemaker I suppose...however not everybody has access to machines, and in South Africa, we have no electricity during parts of the day...so, we have to learn to work without power tools. Thanks for watching! Regards

[@tamimamini7446]

Am I the first comment?

[@zeemanknives]

Yes you are the first to comment. Thank you for the kind words. Happy to hear that you find my content useful!

[@PaulTardino]

Why peen the pins only to sand them flush with the scales? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?

[@zeemanknives]

The metal pins expand slightly into the wood where you peen it, thats why you need to becareful not to peen it too much because you can crack the wood if the pins expand too much.

[@user-ww4od4jl1f]

*"WARNING" - are you in California???*

[@zeemanknives]

No, not even in the US.

[@user-ww4od4jl1f]

@@zeemanknives So why the hell are you warning about something that is obvious?

[@user-ww4od4jl1f]

@@zeemanknives AFAIK only in California everything is dangerous. Other states are normal.

[@zeemanknives]

@@user-ww4od4jl1f i suppose the same reason as car manuals warning not to drink the battery contents...

[@user-ww4od4jl1f]

@@zeemanknives *Never read car manual 😉I have never heard that it is forbidden to drink battery electrolyte!*

[@rescd3336]

What SLAP in the face to Will Smith not being able to play the role your way. The movie came out great without him.

[@zeemanknives]

Hehehe...umm, thank you...not sure Will, will agree, but ok. Thanks for watching.

[@nathanadrian7797]

you lost me at stock removal, gone at 1:20.

[@zeemanknives]

I'm sorry the video did not meet your expectations. Question for you...do you consider an anvil being part of the "common tools" category?

[@nathanadrian7797]

@@zeemanknives For someone making knives? Yes. Funny, I didn't see the term "common tools" in the title. No hard feelings, I wish you the best, but my interest is in hand forged knives. Good luck with your channel, I hope you do well.

[@zeemanknives]

No hard feelings at all. Check the main title image...says there knife making using common tools. Also i never mentioned 'forging' in my video title. But thats all technicalities. Keep well and all the best to you.

[@DoubleKMustangs]

Fantastic video. Thank you.