I'm looking to make my own chip carving knife, and I have a couple of questions. First, is a regular hacksaw blade (around 0.6mm thick) a suitable choice for the knife blade? Second, when it comes to attaching the blade to the handle scales, what's the better option: using wood screws or pop rivets? I'd prefer to avoid using pins if possible.
2 Answers
If you decide to use pins, small nails could work, but make sure they’re not too thick. You could also make your own pins by cutting down some larger nails and peening them, which might give you a sturdy connection. Just ensure they fit snugly in the handles!
A hacksaw blade is on the thinner side, but you might want to consider a bit thicker—like around 1mm would be ideal for better durability. A Flexcut knife, for example, is about 1.5mm thick. Anything thinner might only work for tiny detail work and won’t stand up to much wear. As for attaching it, while epoxy resin can be a good option, wood screws are usually reliable too since they won't stick out and you can countersink them.
Thanks for the tip! What alternative blade materials do you suggest that are both affordable and easy to find?
You’ve got a point! I can drill a countersink for the screw, so it won’t stick out. That sounds like a solid plan!