Best advice Bladesmiths give to Novices

Ken H> said:
Well said, you will NEVER regret variable speed. I started with 3 pulley setup and said "that's plenty"... when I finally built a VSD direct drive grinder, it was daylight 'n dark difference. If money is a concern, then cheap out with the Chinese VFD for $100..... BUT - do go VSD direct drive.

Ken H>
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I did the same thing. I figured "it works", so I spent my money elsewhere on other little things here and there. When I built my last grinder, I went all out and got a VFD, and holy cow... do I wish I would have just pulled the trigger sooner. It really does make a night and day difference, and adds so much versatility.
 
Don't spend a lot of time on a failed knife. It's easy to spend a lot of time on a knife that will never be much of anything. Just learn from that one and move on. I think this is where, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear".

Fred
 
Use fresh abrasives for all of your work! From grinding after heat treat to sand paper for the blades, grip or spine, it just works better, easier & faster to get a better finish. The old saying about using sandpaper like it's free is really great advice. I still use an old coarse grit belt for knocking down edges on grips against the steel, but the finish is always better with nice, fresh belts & paper.

Second the idea of finishing every blade you make. It forces you to analyze the mistakes, be more creative in finish & learn how to work with your "self" & the materials.
 
If things start going bad with a knife, put it down and walk away for awhile. Things don't get easier to fix the more aggravated you are.
Nick Wheeler and Walter Sorrells have great Youtube videos to learn from.
 
Thanks guys, some very good advice in this thread, it is much appreciated, I am going with the esteem grinder package with variable speed, Brett was very easy to work with. Hearing this advice from the experience here will help shed some light on what I will be facing, once again Thanks
 
At one of Dave Lisch's classes I remember seeing this written on the wall.
'Knifemaking is a process of recovery"
I have lots of practice with that.
 
Ya have to see what ya did caused...then adjust if necessary.
 
Not mine, but the concept transcends many fields and metaphors: "Use sandpaper like it's free"
 
I found it best to keep practicing one pattern for a while. So I had to learn every step in making it - without having new puzzles pop up. When I got the hang of it I move on to a new type of pattern.
 
Study. Read the stickies, read a book or two, watch some videos

Read this forum often. In my opinion its the best resource online with the most knowledgeable people, consistently over the years.
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
Slower = better.
Better = faster.
It's true.
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Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I use this in the shooting world but it very much applys to knife making.

DONT make knives for the money.
Knife making is an addiction and a passion. If you don't have the drive to do it no mater what, even if you never sell a blade then you will end up Dropping it.
 
1) Sometimes a SHARP file works better then a grinder (even a DANDY variable speed running REALLY slow).

2) The time you spend setting up your tools i.e. squaring, plumbing, aligning/tramming and tightening them down will pay dividends. Don't trust the degree markings an ANYTHING - those are approximations.

3) GOD ONLY GAVE YOU ONE SET OF EYES AND LUNGS. Good eye and dust protection are worth every penny.
 
Wow these great ideals and suggestion keep coming and there all very good, I really do appreciate that, especially the one currenthill mentioned, I seem to be drawn to chefs knives, for some they seem boring I am sure, but that is one knife men and women could appreciate, almost every single person would appreciate holding or having a good quality chefs knife or really even a good set of kitchen cutlery, I think I may try my hand at that, but only when I feel I am ready, so that may be where I will aim to get to, for now I will stick to some more basic drop points and camp styles, I am going to keep my grinds on the simple side and I will probably even use a jig for first time or two, I will probably use a guide to ensure I get my plunge lines as straight possible, freehand seems fun and in time I am shooting to be able get free hand as good or better than even a jig, I plan to stick with platens for now, maybe a little slack belt work, I do like the convex theory some. The thing I am going for out of the gate, are good quality looking and made bolsters, I think they relly express the knife maker and the blade itself, I don't think I am going to jump straight into dovetail joints and do them well at my level but I plan to get to that level, I really love some of the file details that can done on the spine of a well made blade with needle files a little patience and extremely good lay-outs, to me it tell people that the smith put some effort and character and gave the blade part of his soul, but yet I am not going to be a turd polisher at first either. I really appreciate all these good words of wisdom and advice and by all means keep them coming.
 
Wearing ear, eye and dust breathing protections is a must. Safety safety first. Where making sparks, look to see where they could go as where they go fire follows. Dust collection is very important, if dust is all over everything it will get back up in the air right when you wont be wearing a respirator. Research the toxicity of handle materials, it will scare you.... but enjoy your art!!
 
someone told me all expensive tools and what not do is do things more effeciently...
therefore they can make you more effeciently screw things up as they can more effeciently make things better...
 
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