Becoming a knife maker

Captain Spaulding

Captain Spaulding

Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Messages
1,140
I live in Durango Colorado and am looking to learn the art of knife making. Any suggestions on how to go about it without reinventing the wheel? I have only seen one local maker here in town that is referenced on the internet. Please help me out here folks...new guy needs a new gig and wants to have fun at work.
 
You can start right here. At the top of the threads list, there's a sticky titled, "Newbies - Good info here". Just start reading until you've read through it all. Then you'll know exactly which questions to ask and how to ask them. There is information in there about just about all aspects of knifemaking. It was created for people just like you!!

Welcome to Bladeforums!!
 
get a good grinder, get some decent steel and ask the experts here (or use the google search) whenever you have questions. Thats what I do and it has worked so far.
 
Thanks man, I am doing that as we speak, I think I was more referring to any technical educational programs or known schools that provide this kind of education. I am going to give the cheapskate procedure a wack next week hopefully. I should have been a bit more specific...I could actually feel half of you gritting your teeth and internally screaming, "use the f-ing search function you retarded newbie". Good thing I have no shame. :)
 
Get a copy of "the 50 dollar knifeshop" by wayne Goddard. That will give you a good start.There are several good books on the subject at most libraries. Then get some seel and grind off eveything that doesn't look like a knife. A lot of practice.
Stan
 
I will hunt it down, right now I am trying to hunt down a good steel and wood source in town. Found the wood one, I think, now just need a steel supply. I think I may have a buddy that has access to a ton of scrap.
 
A crying shame I am not still in Vegas, I had a friend that was buddy buddy with a custom pool cue maker there and boy did they have a ton, literally, of exotic woods from all over the world, beautiful stuff.
 
SBuzek said:
Get a copy of "the 50 dollar knifeshop" by wayne Goddard. That will give you a good start.There are several good books on the subject at most libraries. Then get some seel and grind off eveything that doesn't look like a knife. A lot of practice.
Stan
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That book gave me what I needed to get started.
 
Well I just ordered a single piece of 01 from Flatground. Cost me 24 bucks so I figure when it shows up I have to make it sharp. Hopefully, it even resembles a knife when I get done. The purchase should force me into action.
 
Getting started is alot easier than stoping! It's Like Crack! You cant sleep, you forget to eat. Just be careful and dont fall into the trap!
 
I hope so man. I got a ton of ideas and I am poor. Should be the perfect hobby to sweat to. No posh grinders and expensive forges for this hobo.
 
Captain Spaulding said:
I hope so man. I got a ton of ideas and I am poor. Should be the perfect hobby to sweat to. No posh grinders and expensive forges for this hobo.
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I built my forge for $60 using scraps. The only costs were for the ceramic wool liner and a little bernzomatic torch.
Ya see, I'm a poor boy too.
 
Captain Spaulding said:
Cool, how have you done so far? Any pictures? How long have you been at it?
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I just started this new hobby the first of Feb. I decided instead of buying my yearly gun I would get the stuff needed to make my own knives. I am working on knife #9 now.
Picture of my forge or knives?
 
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