Best Piece of Advice You've Received From A Knife Maker

John "Hutch" Skierka

John "Hutch" Skierka

Joined
Jan 14, 2015
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69
Just a new guy here, wanted to say hi and post a topic everyone can get in on.

When I made my first knife, I was pretty green and needed some advice on a few things, so I sought out a local maker to get some questions answered. I had a pretty good idea of what I was doing, and the processes involved, but just needed a little more.

The one line that sticks in my head from that afternoon was, "Don't get into making knives". Now, I might add that this sounded pretty serious when he (I won't name names) said it, but looking back, I think it was a little more of a jab to get me going. Sort of a little reverse psychology thing. It was my first knife, and it didn't turn out super great, but it does the task it was made to do. Hey, who's first knife ever turned out perfect . . .

My question to everyone is; what is the best single piece of advice a knife maker has given you when you first started out?
 
Use belts and abrasive paper like it's free. Wasting time on belts that don't cut or paper that is beyond life is exactly that, a waste.
 
From Aldo the man himself, "You're not a knife maker until you make 100 knives, now get to it!"
 
Harvey Dean once told me "Never miss a chance to sell a knife." Since then I've sold a knife at a baby shower, a wedding shower, Thanksgiving dinner, and a hair salon.
 
I was not given to me, I gave it to an aspiring knifemaker based on my experience:

Don't practice grinder bevels making knives, practice bevels with the grinder.

When you make your first knives you make a lot of mistakes so you keep correcting the shape to have the appearance of a knife until you give up or you "by magic" end with a bevel that you feel comfortable with.

IMHO is far better to understand (early in becoming a knifemaker) the mechanics of making a bevel, how to put pressure with your fingers and your body, where to put it and what to expect. This is easier if you are not thinking in making a knife.

And no, fixtures DO make your life easier BUT once you can freehand a decent bevel, not before :D


Pablo
 
Jason Fry said:
Harvey Dean once told me "Never miss a chance to sell a knife." Since then I've sold a knife at a baby shower, a wedding shower, Thanksgiving dinner, and a hair salon.
Click to expand...

ABS=Always Be Selling

I do the same.

Also show what you have and make, no one will buy if they don't know you make knives or show them.


Pablo
 
I was struggling with deep grind marks near my plunge and I asked a local maker what he does to clean them up? He said "I don't put them in" and left it at that. I thought maybe some kind of secret knife makers code prevented him from explaining what he meant? A month or so later, I figured it out! Now I don't put them in either!
 
Probably not advice, but funny just the same

Inside every 12 inch Bowie is an 8 inch skinner
 
"Look at a knifemakers knives before considering their advice"
 
Best advice I got was to just get going and make some knives - and always think what you can do to improve.
 
Cool thread:thumbup:

Never say good enough. Always try to finish to the best of your ability and you will see improvement.
 
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