FAQs
Take a look through the common questions people have. If you have a question that isn't answered here, then contact us.
Why use a waterjet?
Knife steel is easiest to work while it is annealed (in a softer state). Then when your knife is shaped and ready, you take it through a heat treating process that makes the metal hard so it can hold a sharp edge. When cutting out a blade you don't want to add heat to the metal as it can cause uneven heat and hardness in the metal making it hard to work. The waterjet doesn't add any heat when cutting, so the blanks arrive still perfectly annealed.
I can get stuff laser cut locally, will that work?
Laser cutting heats the knife blank while it's being cut out which hardens the steel. Trying to shape a hardened blade on a belt grinder will wear out belts a lot faster and make it more difficult to work.
Where do we get our metal?
All of our metal is made in the USA with ISO 9001:2015 quality standards.
Which steel is best?
There is no best steel. There are only bests for specific applications.
1095 is an excellent choice because of its affordability while still being a great all-around knife steel. It isn't as durable and wear resistant as O1, or as corrosion resistant as D2 and S30V. It's a top performer at this price point.
O1 is great for beginners because it is easy to heat treat without specialty equipment. It is easy to sharpen and can hold a good edge.
CPM S30V is a high end stainless steel. It was formulated specifically for knives to provide high edge retention and high corrosion resistance.
Also check out our Metals page to see what other steels are good for.
What is the turn around time for my order?
To keep costs low, we stock steel in bulk and then make your order when its placed. Orders are typically shipped within 3 business days.
What is the shipping cost?
The rates are calculated from our location to yours.
Do you do custom orders?
Yes, we can do custom orders. You may submit your custom design through our Custom Quote section. Here we will review your design and send you an email with the quoted price for your knife. You will then work with our CAD designer to finalize the design before cutting. There is a $25 CAD fee per design. If you order 10 or more blanks of the design, the CAD fee will be waived. Your order will be promptly cut and shipped out to you on a standard 2 week turn around time.
What equipment do I need to turn my knife blank into a real knife?
Knives were one of the first tools ever made. So if you want to go full caveman, you can probably make a knife using rocks. For very basic, we suggest a set of good files or a cheap belt sander. Then you can add more tools to your arsenal as you progress. There are many great resources online, and the knife making community is typically very helpful.
Are you the guys that do that YouTube thing?
Yes! You may have come here from YouTube, in which case, thanks for the support. If not, go check us out on youtube, https://www.youtube.com/waterjetchannel
Why does that guy lick stuff?
Gross, why would you even ask that?
If you buy something from this website or from a website we refer you to, we make money. You probably knew that, but the government people like us to tell you that. Thanks for your support