Knife Making Without Tools

Step 11 Shape and Rough Sharpen the Blade

Fortunately it's drizzling a bit and the pavement is wet.
I rubbed the blade on the edge of a curb til it was cut through enough to break off at the length I wanted.
Then I rubbed the rest of it on wet pavement til it was sharp and there was a bit of a burr on the edge.
It goes pretty quick. Cement is a good abrasive.

Look for smoother concrete if you want a better finish on your knife.
Or rub a rock or piece of cement on your working abrasive surface to smooth it first.
A rock, brick, broken flower pot, or any other rough ceramic item make good abrasives.
Hard wet beach sand can be a miraculously good abrasive.

The blade got a bit hot even though the pavement was wet.
I dipped it in a puddle from time to time to cool it off.

Comments

[BobMarleyFan]

To sharpen it you could use the bottom, unglazed, ring on a mug

[Freeshka]

how long does this step take because ive been working on this for about an hour and i still cant even break the tip off??

[cdousley]

if you had a dremel it would help with cutting wheels an some diffent types of grinders

[temp]

Ah, yes it would. But then this instructable would be using some sort of tool. It's knife making without tools.

[jadi929]

i was able to get it real sharp, but couldnt get rid of the round edge, i dont see how you were able to cut it off as easily as you made it seem?

[jadi929]

does the concrete have to be wet?

[guitarman63mm]

The grind is smoother, and it lubricates the motion; so while technically 'no', you definitely should.

[trebloc]

This is a awesome project for a impatient teenager like me!! I often find myself losing interest in longer more complex knifes, but this is perfect!! Thanks and Good Job!!