Are Circular Saw Blades Good For Making Knives? What Do Bladesmiths Say?

Last Updated On July 3, 2023

Do you know the best part of steel? They are recyclable. And as most of the circular saw blades are steel-made, why not turn them into knives?

But are circular saw blades good for making knives?

Yes, absolutely. Circular saw blades use very high-quality steel, and they can be easily shaped into razor-sharp knives. Moreover, you don’t even need to treat the steel as they are already hardened enough. 

On top of that, the old saw blades are usually best known for their extraordinary strength and endurance.

So, let’s make you walk through the details of making knives out of a circular saw blade.

What Type of Steel Are Circular Saw Blades Made from?

Truth be told, several steel types could be used to form a robust circular saw blade. Depending on the purpose, the steel types vary. But mostly, high-carbon steel is used in constructing these versatile blades.

However, the steel type is also determined by the design of the saw blade. 

Here is a list for you that includes the most popular steel varieties for making circular saw blades-

• High carbon steel
• Chrome Vanadium 
• 440B stainless steel
• 420 stainless steel
• Lower alloy steel
• Alloy steel
• Non-alloy carbon steel
• Dim05 HSS

Talking of the steel types, each has its own purposes. 

For instance, if you have a tungsten carbide tipped saw, the blade is most likely to be made of high chrome, high carbon steel.

Contrarily, a food-grade stainless steel blade uses 420 stainless steel. For friction saws, we often see the blades are made of chrome vanadium.

Nevertheless, hot saws have blades that are made of a variety of materials. 

If you prefer a crack-resistant, saw, probably, the blade includes high carbon content and a bit of vanadium.

Thus, circular saw blade steel type varies according to its application. 

Are Circular Saw Blades Good for Knife Making?

Yes, they are, but old saw blades only. Modern saw blades are not wise selections though. As old saw blades are already in their right hardness to hold edges, they could, indeed, make pretty good knives.

Most importantly, a circular saw blade doesn’t become caught in the material. The smoothness and accuracy it offers while cutting are great pluses for knives. 

Moreover, these blades are powerful enough with absolute precision and strength. You can cut a wide variety of materials such as wood, metal, brick, cement, plexiglass, etc.

Naturally, that is a big advantage if you turn the blade into a knife. And it doesn’t matter if you lack knowledge of metallurgy. You don’t even need to treat the steel as they are already hardened enough.

Best of all, most circular saw blades are abrasion resistant. So, the knife made out of the blade will also be prone to corrosion and abrasion.

All things considered, circular saw blades are indeed good for knife making. Just make sure you know the steel type before you proceed.

Because according to bladesmiths, it’s not so wise to experiment with mystery metal, even if you are an advanced knife maker.

Can You Cut Metal with a Regular Circular Saw Blade?

You can cut metal with a circular saw blade but it must be specified for metal cutting. So, you shouldn’t use just any saw blade while cutting metal. 

But if the saw is labeled as metal-safe, you can undoubtedly cut through steel, aluminum, lead, copper, and other non-ferrous metals. 

However, a circular saw must have an enclosed housing to protect the motor when you are using it to cut through metal. The metal chips could be very dangerous, you know!

How to Make a Knife from an Old Saw Blade?

First thing first, find an old saw blade. You will easily get it in a sawmill or a lumber mill. Then follow the steps below to produce an edgy knife out of the acute saw blade-

1. Use an angle grinder to mark a rectangular shape on the blade. Then cut it accordingly.
2. Now you have a blank piece of steel. Mark out your knife design on it and then shape it accordingly with the help of a power grinder. 
3. Don’t forget to wear gloves and goggles. Shaping the blade and the handle tang requires using safety gear. 
4. After you have the shape of the blade, you should now grind the edge with the angle grinder. It’s even better if you have a finisher machine. 
5. Wow! It looks like an actual knife, right? Hold on; you have more things to do.
6. At this point, drill the holes for the handle pins. Then anneal the blade so that it holds a decent edge.
7. Once you are done with heat treating and tempering the blade, move on to fitting the handle scales.
8. Wrap the blade part in protective materials not to affect its edge. Then select the handle material and cut it.
9. Next, cut the pins for the handle. And then drill the holes in the handle scales. Please remember that the holes must be perfectly aligned. 
10. Finally, clean the surface of the handle thoroughly with solvent to get rid of any dirt or grease. Then apply epoxy glue and clamp the handle securely in a vice.
11. Once the glue is all set, use as many strips and abrasive paper as you want to reach a satisfactory shape for the handle.
12. At last, you can put your “maker mark” on the knife. Wait wait, use a leather sheath to hold the knife to extend its lifespan.

Are Circular Saw Blades Hardened?

Yes, circular saw blades are hardened. Once the steel is shaped into a saw blade, it’s often heat treated at 900-1100° Celsius to withstand tremendous force.

Thanks to this hardening process, circular saw blades are extremely powerful. After the initial heating, they are cooled down and then reheated to 500° C. 

Finally, cooling down the blades for the second time makes them more intense and sustainable.

Final Words

To sum up, we hope that we could shed some light on your query- are circular saw blades good for making knives?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, old saw blades are ideal for making not only knives but also all types of tools and blades.

Given the edge, endurance, and accuracy of a saw blade, you can turn it into a decent knife with a little bit of effort. 

If you have never tried to do so, follow the steps above, and you will get a sharp and serviceable knife indeed!