Advice for a knifemaking noob, anyone?

S

skydog

Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
86
For a while Ive been lookin at doing a bit of knifemaking, just dont know where to start. Im not sure how serious I want to get into it since im at school and dont really have ready acess to a shop, but I have seen blades and kits on places like Texas Knifemakers Supply. Im going home at Xmas for a few weeks and might find myself in need of a project or two to keep myself busy, but as we have no forge at home (rats) thought that a kit like that might be good experience for getting into this sort of thing. Figured I'd ask a couple of folks with more wisdom than I in such matters if this might be a good way for a knifemakin noob like myself to get his foot in the door.
 
Skydog,
I heartily recommend you check out www.ragweedforge.com for a number of reasons. Blades, fittings, kits, even helpful instructional articles about how to mount a knife handle or make your own sheath, it's all right there. The products are top quality, the prices very reasonable, and the service fast, friendly, and dependable.

Here's a sample of the kits (this one's my favorite)

brus-kit.jpg


If you do decide to order some stuff from Ragweed Forge, tell ol' Ragnar that Robert of Yorkshire sent you, that'll make him grin. :D He's an old friend, a good man, and I have no shame at all in sending business his way.

Sarge
 
Welcome.

Read the safety thread...just for the knowledge.

Then use the "search" function to find some of Sarge's posts on knives he has made.

Then, maybe, look up Dan Koster's site. We watched him go from experimenter to blade-maker, knife-maker master apprentice.

Then, screw around. Eye protection, gloves, and breathing filter of some sort if you grind antler or some exotic woods.

Then, pictures...we live somewhat vicariously here.

(Edit for knifemaking site:http://www.westernmetalwork.com/knife/log.htm)


wacherass
 
This is great stuff. I had nevere found the blades and kits at that site. Thanks Sarge.

Andy
 
They are far too rare in the part of the world and the most useful, attractive knives you will ever see. 'Ragweed forge' is a good resource as is 'Thompson Knife Supply' and www.brisa.fi
I'm working on a half dozen for my nieces and nephews to put in their x-mas stockings. Their main gift is a trebuchet. I wish I had an uncle like me when I was growing up.
 
what tools will you have available?

how would you rate your "craft" skills?

any experience in metalworking? woodworking?
 
At home I have access to a bunch of woodworking handtools, a grinder, drill press, lathe, bandsaw, and a tablesaw. My dad has done a little of just about everything so we've got plumbing, carpentry, electrical tools and no telling what else. I'd say that im pretty good with my hands, I'm really good at doing turning on the lathe and can use all the machines listed pretty well, but I havent done much with metalworking at all. The link Kismet posted didnt seem to be too far out of my range as far as tools go, about the only exception being the forge, but I doubt it would be very hard to talk my dad into rigging one up.
 
Sarge
I can grind an old file as long as I take care not to get the metal too hot and take out the heat treat right? I just bought a small file to make a chakma out of. Can I use a sander to smooth the file? I'm going to leave the file on one side and sand the other side smooth. Should make a good all around sharpening steel.
 
Malcolm,
Sounds like you've got the long and short of it all right. If the file's going to be a chakma, it'll work fine left at full hardness. Set a big coffee can, etc., full of water close to your grinder, and dip the blade in often as you go along. If the blade hisses at all when dunked in the water, that's not good, don't wait so long next time, and if anywhere along the blade you get a color change (indicating burnt temper) that's really not good.

Work slowly until you get the proper hang of it, best to make many light passes on the grinding wheel to keep things straight and even. Bearing down to make things go faster will just make the blade heat up quickly, and removing too much metal at a time will wind you up with a "wobbly grind".

A 120 grit belt on a belt sander will smooth things up nicely, and I generally hand sand for final finish (got lots of time on my hands). Get your chakma smooth as you can, deep nicks and scratches on the surface will act as tiny teeth, boogering up the edge you are trying to burnish with it.

One last note. I'm assuming you are going to mount a handle when you are done. If so, do not leave your tang full hard, it'll snap like dry spaghetti if you put any kind of pressure on it. Wrap your chakma blade with a wet rag, leaving the tang exposed. Carefully heat the tang with a torch (don't have a torch? a burner on your stove, gas or electric, will suffice to heat the tang) until it turns a nice blue color, then you can go ahead and dunk it in some water. No more worries about it snapping, so go ahead and mount a nice handle.

Good luck and have fun :)

Sarge
 
Sarge
The tang is already a blue color so I shouldn't have to do anything to the tang. Thanks for the advise.................Malcolm
 
Thats good 411 on the slow grinding Sarge. I've been wondering about how you kept the grinder from ruining your heat treat. Slow must be the word. I've worked with grinders and sanders (all at 3450 rpm) and they turn the metal blue pretty quick. I'll have to practice. I'm going to make a file knife soon though. Just try and stop me.

Andy
 
email me your address and I'll send you kit-o-parts for FREE.
 
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