Why I Made My Own Ninja Stars (Part 1 of 3)

[@Vinnay94]

Welcome back! Glad to see you pass down the Ninja Scroll to the little one.

[@Xolette]

Haha, thank you!

[@tonyeden8381]

Wow ninja lady is back 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Xolette]

Thank you!

[@samuel61762]

Yours was one of the first channels I ever subscribed to. I learned a lot about throwing from you. I'm glad to see you're uploading!

[@Xolette]

Aw, thank you! When I started throwing there were barely any knife throwing videos (or even KZbin for that matter) so I appreciate it!

[@AdamCeladin]

Sooo nice to see you back in Action Colette :)) Thank you for shutout also ,)) Those Shurikens you made Kick-Ass ,))

[@Xolette]

Aw, thank you Adam! Your videos helped me out a lot. And I didn't know that Cold Steel made Ninja Stars until I watched your video. It was like, how did I miss these? I recently ordered some, and can't wait to try them out! Thanks for the comment!

[@rikkunaify]

I MISS YOUR VIDEOS! And she’s so big now!!! 😮

[@Xolette]

Aw, thanks! Yeah, I remember it wasn't too long ago that I didn't trust she would run in front of the target, but now I can trust her to stay put!

[@rikkunaify]

@@Xolette I remember! How time flies!

[@howlinghoosier6501]

Yours and Adam's videos are what got me into knife-throwing originally. Glad to see you back and passing it on!

[@Xolette]

Oh wow! And it's really cool to see how far Adam has come. Thank you!

[@AndyGneiss]

It's good to see you back on KZbin and having fun! Short lesson on steel: The "plain hot rolled steel" you used is what is called "mild steel" or "low carbon steel" (which is what Lowes described it as), which means this type of steel is "soft" on the spectrum of types of steel. With more carbon in steel, the steel can be hardened so that it becomes less ductile (so a ninja star or knife won't bend out of shape). Steel is hardened through a heat treatment process and depending on the type of steel, that process can be DIY-able with a hot enough gas torch, bucket of water, and a kitchen oven (heating up, quenching, and tempering) (quenching hardens the steel and tempering removes part of the hardness so it isn't too hard). Hopefully that's enough specific terminology to use as a starting point for further research.

[@Xolette]

Thank you for the advice! I was trying to see which steel works best for this project and I did look up heat treating and was immediately intimidated. :) And I read in a forum that you wouldn't harden the steel I used because of the low carbon content. It's times like these that I wished I took some type of metal working class in high school!

[@Hypurman1]

The ninja stars are super cool and all, but talk to me about that target build!! It's one of the best I've seen! Did you come up with it yourself? Find blueprints online? Can they take the impact of larger steel, say, axes? Teach me, Xolette!

[@Xolette]

Wow! Someone noticed my target! :) I videotaped the whole process (which I hope to edit) but the stand was a little harder than I thought it would be. I'm sure the targets themselves could withstand an ax but I'm not so sure with the 2x4 stand. The targets I made with 2x4s-- I just cut 3 1/2 in blocks out of 2x4s, wood glued those to each other and tightened it in a frame that has a backboard behind it. I didn't wood glue the blocks to the backboard or the frame-- not sure if it's necessary if you tighten it well. For the most part it's staying in the frame, but since the wood shrunk, I need to adjust the frame so the blocks are more snug inside. If the 2x4 end grain target build is too daunting, I saw log rounds and and endgrain targets being sold on Amazon! Just look up, "end grain target knife throwing". As for the stand, I bought the plastic fixtures on Amazon-- it's called "GoSports Outdoors Blast Range". If you're not moving anytime soon, it'd probably be easier to just make it out of wood and screws. But if you do buy the orange fixtures, make sure your wood is dry and dries flat. Wet wood (mine was pressure treated) will not fit inside because it'll be too thick. The wood warped for me too, but I faced the warped wood in opposite directions so the targets wouldn't lean to one side. To hang up my targets, I used hooks and little metal "shelves" found in the lumber section-- but setting those up was a pain. It worked well in the end though. I can bring my targets in my covered patio so they're not subjected to the outdoors. But on the downside, I have to lug 35 lb targets outside every time I want to throw. Anyway, this build was a bit of a mess, but in the end it worked out. Hopefully I will get to editing the video. Probably, the easiest way to build a target is ust making the stand/frame/backboard all one piece and the backboard is where you would hang up the targets (log round or end grain). I hope that helps!

[@Hypurman1]

@@Xolette holy crap, what a detailed response! Pardon me, I'm having a little celebrity-shock moment. 😅 Luckily I don't expect to do much throwing through the winter, so I got time. I look forward to your video when you get around to it!! Thank you for responding so well and so fast! You're awesome.

[@Xolette]

@@Hypurman1 No problem! I need some motivation to edit that footage, so thank you! I have accumulated a lot of target building footage that I never edited it because I'm never 100 percent happy with the build. But I'm sure it'll be somewhat useful!

[@stephdaily225]

I'm glad you're back!! You were the first knife thrower I started following a few years ago.

[@Xolette]

Wow, thank you!

[@lianakamori4156]

Xolette!!! I'm so happy to see you around again! It was an unexpected pleasant surprise to see you on my feed. I hope everything has been awesome in your life in all this time and thank you so much for all your videos on knife throwing, they really were the jumpstarter for my passion in knife throwing. By the way, Aveline is so BIG! Good grief! Time really does fly, I'm very happy for you and Jon, she really is the little ninja we all predicted her to be and she has a huge heart c: I can't believe I missed the XoletteLife channel! D: I was oblivious all along haha. But I hope to see more videos on this channel in the future, in the meantime I'll tune into the other channel. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@Xolette]

Aw thank you! And it's good to hear from you. Always a joy to read your happy comments :) Life has been good. My husband works, so my job is to take care of my daughter and now that she's in school, I have all the time in the world (for the most part) for creative projects. I have nothing to complain about! I don't really schedule on a routine basis, only when I'm inspired/motivated. I hope you are well and thank you again for the comment!

[@dazoomcat]

Oh man great to see you back

[@Xolette]

Thank you!

[@ssjronin3972]

I really appreciate you sharing this idea! I wanted you to know I went out immediately, started making these and I am having so much fun throwing them as single blades. Thanks for uploading!

[@Xolette]

Wow, I'm glad you were inspired to make your own! I thought the same thing when I was cutting into the 3/4 inch width steel-- that this would be an easy throwing knife to make. They look a lot like my Flying Steel East Winds, one of my all-time favorite throwing knives. Did you use the 3/4 inch width or the 1/2 inch width? Thank you for sharing!

[@ssjronin3972]

@@Xolette I went with the 3/4 because I am use to the heavy condor dismissals. I also like the idea of having large folding stars so they can be thrown from far distances even in windy weather. So I cut mines about 12inchs long and they feel like high end hefty throwing knives. I am planning on buying more steel so I can have a set of both, folding stars and single double blades.

[@Xolette]

@@ssjronin3972 That is great! The small folding shuriken I made with the 3/4" steel was not good-- but would've been better if it were much larger. I'm glad you built upon what I posted! I'm hoping to make another set of 4 folding shuriken too when I find the time!

[@themachinist9408]

A budget friendly option for heat treating might be to use a charcoal chimney, old hair dryer, used motor oil and some charcoal. I had to be creative as a teenager with an old angle grinder and no money. Now that I’m an adult with a career in welding and machining, I get to enjoy a heat treat oven and great tools. O1 or 4142 steels can be quenched in oil and might meet your needs if you decide to pursue metalwork any further. Thanks for the videos!

[@Xolette]

I'm a bit late to comment but thank you for the information!

[@bigddw4]

i really like the Cold steel stars the medium weight specifically.

[@Xolette]

If I had seen those on Amazon I would've bought them! They do look like a good size and weight. Did you not like the heavier weight?

[@bigddw4]

@@Xolette I got a couple of the lights at first and they were too light, I then got the medium and they felt much better in the hand and struck the targets with authority. I didn't feel the need to try the heavy ones.

[@Xolette]

@@bigddw4 Thank you for your input! I really didn't want to buy the light ones, but they were on sale, so I got those, along with a medium, and the heavy ones. I'm curious which ones my daughter will like!

[@slhines7]

I've always been a big fan of ninja stars which I used to buy at a local kung fu / karate store which has since gone out of biz.

[@Xolette]

Aren't ninja stars the best? I wish they made more though that were heavier and thicker-- better for small hands!

[@slhines7]

@@Xolette YES, me too & I agree!

[@roysmith7087]

Heat your points and get them cherry hot, then drop them in sugar. Sugar is mostly carbon and will bond with the steel and draw in from the heat.... Then quench your steel in oil and cool it. This should harden your points so they don't bend like that. It's a trick I learned from a friend who shoots black powder rifles where parts need hardened to function.

[@Xolette]

Interesting! It's intimidating though to get metal that hot-- I'd hate to burn myself or set fire to something. Thanks for the advice!

[@mbks77]

The folding ones are pretty awesome...make sure to use screws/bolts that have good sheer strength...otherwise the hardware will break and you may have pointy objects bouncing back...but you're probably used to that by now...lol

[@Xolette]

Haha, yes for sure :) The interesting thing about losing the fasteners, is that the blade didn't come off-- maybe, because the hole I made was so snug. But hopefully they don't break! I'll be on the lookout for it!

[@hueyhulk954]

This is awesome

[@Xolette]

Thank you!

[@davidlord5664]

Haven’t seen one your videos in awhile. You should try making your ninja stars with old skillsaw blades. They work great they don’t bend there hardened steel and you can make ‘em any size you want. Just need a grinder or cutting device.

[@Xolette]

I've seen that before. I was wondering why that would be better than just "raw" steel. Thanks!

[@davidlord5664]

Yes they work great. I made my 10 year old daughter her own 3 inch ninja stars. Just basic four pointed stars. She loved them more then the knives cause she can stick them every shot.

[@Xolette]

@@davidlord5664 Same thing with my daughter! Ninja stars are great for the beginner to get that thunk! Hopefully, when she's ready I can move her onto throwing knives

[@highlander200268]

you sould look up samurai connection, theirs are great and stick everytime

[@jasoncarlson4285]

Mini Shinobi!

[@siirivan8833]

I remember watching your videos long ago! Good to see you’re still producing. Are you still a teacher?

[@Xolette]

A KZbin teacher? Haha, no I haven't taught since my husband joined the military-- but even without a job I've kept myself pretty busy!

[@marcosyy87]

Awesome!

[@Xolette]

Thanks!

[@Mastermind8908]

Those ETSY ones did you wrong. You'd think a person willing to make those would put a bit of time and love into their craft. Maybe their biz is too much on them, but you still put down money for low quality that you had to modify. Nice work on the mod by the way. Also your folding shuriken came out sweet. $100 online compared to $8 at a local store plus a bit of elbow grease is so much better. The tips look so narrow though that I can see you having to straighten and sharpen them over time. Great vid as always, X. 😁

[@Xolette]

Right?! He did me wrong! It's too bad because I really respect the people who handmade items. Oh well. I hope to make more folding shuriken for myself-- 8 would be much better than 4. But I'll make them less pointy next time! Thank you for the comment!

[@grahamohea2424]

Hot rolled mild steel is too soft and will bend/not keep an edge very well. I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard of people having good success taking a file and grinding it down to create knives. That should give you the strength and edge retention to keep it from bending, though the tool steel will be a lot harder to work with than mild steel without heat treating it

[@Xolette]

Interesting! Thank you for the advice! There's so much I don't know about steel.

[@grahamohea2424]

@@Xolette I guess if you wanted to try sometime simpler, you could get some cold rolled steel. It will be work-hardened and thus harder than hot rolled, but not nearly as hard as tool steel

[@Xolette]

@@grahamohea2424 Nice! I like that idea. I'll try cold rolled steel next time-- I think I looked up the difference between the two... But it didn't stick :)

[@ssjronin3972]

Badass

[@Xolette]

Thank you!

[@robg109]

I made some years ago by sawing out of stainless steel. Worked OK. Not really allowed in the UK 🤫. Now I'm into knife making. Recon I could make something much better. You should colab with a knife maker on KZbin 👍👍👍

[@lucky43113]

sad state y'all are in

[@zumbazumba1]

@@lucky43113 its not just UK its illegal in most of europe.Stupid laws made by stupid people for non existing problem.Its not like ninjas rob banks every day. I guess for child safety ,but still its stupid and there is no people that watched ninja turtles and didnt made one.In my country they are illegal but as long as you dont stick it into someone or threaten people with them police doesnt care if you just throw it at home.Cant speak for import thou .But they are so easy to make and its incredibly hard to ban a peace of flat steel.Another great material is those cheap stone/ceramic cut off discs/woodworking circular saw you can buy for 5$ from Lidl..Draw a template at peace of paper with a hole in middle to match a disk mounting hole,glue it to a disc and cut it with angle grinder/hacksaw.o a little sharpening and that's it -your incredibly dangerous weapon is ready to slay some innocent tree trunks!

[@Xolette]

Yeah, the anti-shuriken laws are so weird. No one's going on a killing rampage with ninja stars! That's great you're into knife making. I wish I had taken all the wood working and metal working classes in high school!

[@thorael]

the tip is not hard enough ( oil )

[@Xolette]

Yes, I saw that I can't harden them because it's low carbon steel. (But even then, I don't trust myself with a torch). I don't mind hammering them so far though!

[@Zatyofficialchannel]

damn its been awhile

[@Xolette]

Yeah! I also posted a crafty indoor throwing kunai video semi-recently!