Becoming a knife maker

Captain Spaulding said:
Nice man. You are obviously a quick study...was that a mailbox you used as a forge?
Click to expand...

It's a piece of 10" ductile steel water pipe. The hinge is a regular old door hinge. I have a better pic of it on my cell phone... I'll post it. Gotta upload it first.

"Careful what you say around here, that might end up in someone's sig line. "

LMAO
 
Here's another pic of it.
And yes, I need to clean up around it. lol
gallery_6724_167_147033.jpg
 
Believe it or not, I have seen mailboxes used. Heck, I have seen coffee cans used...
It's all about the insulation and demensions vs. burner.
 
Welcome to BF Captain. If you're looking for knife making information, you have came to the right place. Just look around, read the threads, the stickies, and ask any questions that you can't find the answers to. Always someone willing to help out here. See ya around.
 
hickbob said:
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?
Click to expand...

You buy a gun a year?
 
Hi captain welcome to the board. I am fairly new but soon ill drop the newbie name. Since i started reading and asking questions on dec 15 / 2008 when i had this new hobby idea. I have since turned out 12 knives, won a contest for my first knife that rob ridley of alberta canada put up. I have got 5 stitches and several others that should have been stitched ,pushed my finger into the router and burned my fingers knuckles on the belt sander everyother day. Im really enjoying it and just bought my second grinder yesterday. Depending on what amount of money you have to invest in the hobby is up to you. You can do it several ways one is to forgeand the other to buy product ready for grinding. I am grinding ,I have built a forge but will leave it alone for now. If I were you ide find a cheaper supplier for steel closer and grind once you been doing it for a bit then forge. I am sending out for heat treat, it costs but then a rockwell tester is 5g if you want to make sure your doing it all perfect.The oven is 1500 and then the foil is like 200 bucks a roll. Till i am make 200 knives a year then ill buy the stuff needed. This room is full of great makers and people and they have helped me with years of knowledge.I listen to everthing these guys say and try my best to follow their advice. The first one they will all tell you use steel that you know what it is so the heat treat wont be guessing. Stay away from scrap for now. There is a room here guys sell steel and other supplies from time to time very reasonable priced too. Most important is saftey gear , respirator, googles and so on. enjoy the new hobby. kellyw
 
Welcome to the forum Captain Spaulding, you will find alot of help around here, I know that I have. And post pics of your first knife, we like pics. Be careful making knives, it can be habit forming and hazardous to your wallet. Have fun. J.D.
 
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=719191&highlight=knife+making

After wanting to make knives I did a search, the guy in this post makes knives with no fancy tools, a good place to start and it is what really got me started. I am as new as you are at it. I have spent the last couple of days reading all the stickies at the top of the forum page.

I actually used crap metal to start, a old rusty saw blade, the reason i did that I didn't want to screw up a perfectly good piece of metal. I have made about 4 knives and am only happy with one of them.

I do not have money to buy all the fancy stuff, I have a good job but my youngest Son was born with Spina Bifada and has regular Doc appointments (doing very well though) but do you spend money on a fancy grinder or keep him healthy? My oldest Son got his ex- girlfriend pregnant and we are pretty much raising our Grandaughter, along with the economy, pretty tough.

Enough about me, get to making knives, talk to the folks here, post pics and let them tear it apart, and they will, but use the critisism as a tool and make the next one better. They are right when they say it is hard to quit, I decided the last one I made was it as I can't even come close to the quality they are making here, took a day off and was right back out there trying to make another one better than the last.

Good luck and keep us posted!!
 
hellgap said:
Hi captain welcome to the board. I am fairly new but soon ill drop the newbie name. Since i started reading and asking questions on dec 15 / 2008 when i had this new hobby idea. I have since turned out 12 knives, won a contest for my first knife that rob ridley of alberta canada put up. I have got 5 stitches and several others that should have been stitched ,pushed my finger into the router and burned my fingers knuckles on the belt sander everyother day. Im really enjoying it and just bought my second grinder yesterday. Depending on what amount of money you have to invest in the hobby is up to you. You can do it several ways one is to forgeand the other to buy product ready for grinding. I am grinding ,I have built a forge but will leave it alone for now. If I were you ide find a cheaper supplier for steel closer and grind once you been doing it for a bit then forge. I am sending out for heat treat, it costs but then a rockwell tester is 5g if you want to make sure your doing it all perfect.The oven is 1500 and then the foil is like 200 bucks a roll. Till i am make 200 knives a year then ill buy the stuff needed. This room is full of great makers and people and they have helped me with years of knowledge.I listen to everthing these guys say and try my best to follow their advice. The first one they will all tell you use steel that you know what it is so the heat treat wont be guessing. Stay away from scrap for now. There is a room here guys sell steel and other supplies from time to time very reasonable priced too. Most important is saftey gear , respirator, googles and so on. enjoy the new hobby. kellyw
Click to expand...

Thanks! Got pics of your work? Especially the earliest attempts? Where do you send your stuff out for heat treating?
 
Iowa newbie said:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=719191&highlight=knife+making

After wanting to make knives I did a search, the guy in this post makes knives with no fancy tools, a good place to start and it is what really got me started. I am as new as you are at it. I have spent the last couple of days reading all the stickies at the top of the forum page.

I actually used crap metal to start, a old rusty saw blade, the reason i did that I didn't want to screw up a perfectly good piece of metal. I have made about 4 knives and am only happy with one of them.

I do not have money to buy all the fancy stuff, I have a good job but my youngest Son was born with Spina Bifada and has regular Doc appointments (doing very well though) but do you spend money on a fancy grinder or keep him healthy? My oldest Son got his ex- girlfriend pregnant and we are pretty much raising our Grandaughter, along with the economy, pretty tough.

Enough about me, get to making knives, talk to the folks here, post pics and let them tear it apart, and they will, but use the critisism as a tool and make the next one better. They are right when they say it is hard to quit, I decided the last one I made was it as I can't even come close to the quality they are making here, took a day off and was right back out there trying to make another one better than the last.

Good luck and keep us posted!!
Click to expand...

Wow, got your hands full. Got any pics of your first attempt? It is sooo easy to find expert work and advice so I am really curious to see the first attempts of amateurs. Especially the skinflints like me. See what I did there? I made is sound like being cheap was a choice. :D
 
Go buy yourself a box of wood paint sticks and practice your grinds...I had an old smithy show me that trick....it sure beats tearing up a bunch of steel and you get a good feel for your styling techniques that way. A box of good ol' wood paint sticks is a heckuva lot cheaper than steel these days to practice on!
 
daveinvegas said:
You buy a gun a year?
Click to expand...

Yes, if not more. If I see a good deal and have the funds, I grab it. I am a gun nut and proud of it.
I usually buy a nice gun around the first of the year. This year I spent the $1500 on knife making equipment and materials mostly.
 
Hickbob i'm thinking about customizing my VZ24 8mm Mauser and turning it into a 6.5-284 1000 yard target/varmint rifle. I've got a lil saved and I cant decide between a kmg clone or the rifle lol and even if I go rifle I'm having trouble decideing 6.5-284, 7WSM, or .338 RUM. :eek: :cool: :D

Jason
 
Looks like us gunnutz has hijacked the thread.... he he

JasonSCarter, tough one. I was thinkin about the Bohica 50BMG or knife makin. Knife makin was a little cheaper (rifle, dies, brass, bullets, & powder...) an has the possibility of a return on my money in the long run.

Captain Spaulding, I bet it is. It's pretty fun poppin coyotes with my .270 loaded with the 90 grain Sierra Varminters. Pooof!
 
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