Becoming a Knifemaker

[rrg991981]

I am good with my hands and have a very mechanical mind. I have had a blade and handle design in my head for a long time and I am really thinking of getting some equipment and maybe starting a knifemaking hobby. Maybe I am getting in over my head, but what does one need to get started making knives? I have no prior metal experience but am a quick study, any advice??

 

[psycho78]

The first thing I was told is to get myself a good 2x72 belt grinder.

The Coote belt grinder is the best grinder hands down for the money in my opinion and lots of others. You have to buy a motor and some pulleys for a few extra bucks, but it'll run you at around 500 bucks overall.

As far as other equipment goes....A metal cutting bandsaw from Harbor freight is nice to have and costs about 150. A small benchtop drill press is another essential. On sale at grizzly and harbor freight for 50-100 bucks. You'll also need some hand files, a good hacksaw, a good vise, handle materials, sandpaper, drill bits etc. and a workplace to put all of this stuff. You could send your blades out to heat treat, or if you wanted to, you could do it yourself with a small forge you could make yourself, or buy for about 200 bucks.

expensive hobby... but fun!

 

[Airborne Steel]

Even before the grinder, get the book the $50 knife shop by Wayne Goddard.
You really only need a file or two, some known quality steel, and a drill to make a knife shaped object. You will want various grits of sand paper, and some handle material. You can send it out for heat treat to become a knife.

I would recommend you use the search function, as this question comes up often, and there has been a wealth of information shared in the (recent) past.

I am a newbie as well and have found (thanks to some of the previous posts) that an angle grinder is an extremely useful tool for hogging away metal.

Hope this helps, Have fun.