Machete into Skinning Knife

T

TangoDelta

Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Messages
18
I would like to turn an old Rusty machete into a skinning/ general purpose sheath knife (not a chopper survival type knife).

Obviously I don’t know what steel it is - so my questions are as follows:

1) Should I anneal, shape, harden and temper?

2) Simply shape the steel to something I like being careful not to overheat.

For option 1 - what process would be recommended and could I get a harder edge that what is there if I tempered less?

Many thanks - I have tinkered with making a few knives but am pretty new to this.
 
If you dont know the type of steel, i would be tempted to say dont anneal, but just grind it to the profile you want. BUT, that would seem to be a LOT of grinding. Use a 36 grit belt for most of it, and watch the heat.

Since you dont know the steel, you dont know how to heat treat it if you first anneal.
 
why not buy a $20 piece of known steel ??
you can get much closer to whatever size you want and you will know what you need to do to heat treat it correctly..
 
Pinoy Knife said:
why not buy a $20 piece of known steel ??
you can get much closer to whatever size you want and you will know what you need to do to heat treat it correctly..
Click to expand...
I suspected someone would suggest this! I understand the rationale - promise I do - but firstly I live in Africa where it’s much harder to get known steel and secondly, I would quite like the kudos for what it’s worth attached to turning a rusty machete into a decent working knife.

Not looking for a work of art - just an old school tool!
 
Oh, you're in Africa - we didn't know where you were located. Why don't you fill out your profile with location etc? It really helps.
 
Pretty easy to cut out the pattern you want using a cut off wheel on a grinder or even the little ones for Dremel style tools. Keeping heat down takes a little more effort but working slowly it can be done.

I think a fairly accurate guess of steel is it is a lower carbon 10xx steel. 1040-1084 all have similar heat treat.
 
Ken H> said:
Oh, you're in Africa - we didn't know where you were located. Why don't you fill out your profile with location etc? It really helps.
Click to expand...
My apologies. I have filled it in.
Seedy Lot said:
I think a fairly accurate guess of steel is it is a lower carbon 10xx steel. 1040-1084 all have similar heat treat.
Click to expand...

I suppose I could cut it down with a grinder.

I once watched an old man in a village making knives and axes with old files, pieces of pit saw blade and leaf springs. He used the front of a sheep skin as a bellows.

Sadly the place I saw him is 1200 miles away and he passed away.

But I really want to get a better understanding of what he was doing.

He heated metals and then placed in the ash under the fire in the ash.

I am guessing this is some sort of annealing process?

I think the quenches saw were done in the stem of a banana tree. I am guessing to help prevent warp?

Finally - not sure what/ how tempering done after this.
 
Options for cutting the machete down:
1) Use an angle grinder and a thin cut off wheel to slice it down into a suitable size.
2) Use a belt grinder or wheel grinder to grind the machete down to suitable size.

After making it a usable size, anneal the blade blank.
Do the basic shaping but don't grind any bevels.
Drill all handle holes.
Harden as you would a piece of unknown carbon steel - Heat to an even red and take to just a tad brighter than non-magnetic.
Quench in oil (canola or other vegetable oil, or mineral oil).
Temper at 375-400°F for one hour, twice.
File/sand/grind in any bevels and make the edge.
Sharpen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top