b'Lead AngleMAKING YOUR OWN CUTTING TOOLF or making a cutting tool, I tend to thinkfor the job is one that you can find in the of a drill, an endmill or some othergarage, he wrote.metalcutting tool being produced on a CNCWhen made and maintained properly, a tool and cutter grinder in a factory. A bookhandcrafted bush knife is a custom work of by Bradley Richardson, however, describesart that can last for generations. Similar to how to make a different type of cuttingthe metal sculptures by Chris Bathgate that tool with manual tools and equipment inI wrote about in my March 2019 Lead Angle a nonproduction environment. Publishedcolumn, production efficiency is not the goal by Fox Chapel Publishing Co. Inc., Mountwhen crafting a knife. The process requires Joy, Pennsylvania, Making Your Own Busha great deal of time and patience and the Knife: A Beginners Guide for the Backyardability to learn from every mistake thats Knifemaker details the process of creatingmade. Based on the photo of Richardsons a custom knife, such as one for skinningknife graveyard box, mistakes are common.The most challenging element of successful knife making seems to be heat treating the blade to achieve an ideal balance of toughness and hardness without having a furnace or oven designed for the task.According to Richardson, for those willing to dedicate the time and effort to do it right, making knives can become a meditative craft, even if it involves hammering a hot piece of steel for hours on end to forge a blade to shape. Personally, Id go with the alternative to working hot steel and profile by stock removal.On another noteFox Chapel PublishingI received an email from Paul Friedli, game or basic woodcarving. Richardson, whoSolothurn, Switzerland, who noted that a resides in northern Michigan, sells his knivescoating is usually deposited over the entire under the name Timberlee Tool & Trade andflute length of a drill. This deposition level was a cast member on the History Channelswastes coating material because the drill Alone survival show. point performs the main holemaking work, The 184-page book covers each stepand most wear occurs on the cutting corners, required for a bladesmith to make a bushcutting lips and chisel edge. Instead, he knife, including selecting the steel, creating asuggests coating the flute length only up to profile, forging the blade or profiling by stocktwo times the drill size. removal, grinding the bevels and attachingAt 91 years old, Friedli, who has read CTE and shaping the handle. Throughout thefor many decades, stated, I am certainly the photo-packed guide, Richardson emphasizesoldest reader. Is he?CTEthe importance of personal safety in a knife shop, as well as knife safety. The fascinatingabout the author book also examines the tools of the trade, with a focus on acquiring them economicallyAlan Richter is editor of CTE. or building them from scratch, which theContact him at 847-714-0175 author did for two belt grinders.or [email protected] a firm believer that the best tool 8MARCH 2020LeadAngle.indd 8 2/14/20 10:29 AM'