Best/Worst part of making a knife?

OK knifemakers! Other than the sale, what is the best part and worst part for you in making a knife?

For me the best part is when I take a knife that is complete but still looks like a brick and contour the handle and blade. This to me is when the knife starts looking like a knife and it comes alive.

The worst part for me is grinding and finishing the blade! They are getting easier but an even flat thickness and even grind still gets the best of me at times!

 
R

Rob!

Joined
Feb 9, 2000
Messages
1,865
The best parts for me are designing the concept either with the customer or alone - Grinding (now that I have the Bee variable) and final handle finish since it is then that you really know how it turned out.

Worst part? fitting guards - meeting deadlines. I force myself to do these till I get better at it.

Oh yes - helping someone else get started - really one of the best parts.

Rob!



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Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
 
I think with me it depends on the way the sun is shining and how I'm holding my mouth that day.

One day I grind a blade and everything goes smooth as silk and I think I really love grinding...10 minutes later I might bosh one and think I hate it.

Pretty much the same for all the procedures.

But all in all I really love making knives. Taking an idea to a drawing, and that drawing to raw materials...to a finished knife is always a great feeling.

Oh, one that has no mood swing affect, is grinding a recurve blade. I just did this recently on a BIG knife and it pretty much sucked. A one inch wide wheel would have made it a little easier, but my hat goes off to those of you that do it so well.
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Nick
 
Best part is hearing from a very satisfied customer and knowing you did everything right! Wosre part, hmmmm, putting 20 hours in a sickle blade short sword and then looking up from the buffer and seeing it laying on the floor in 3 pieces.

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Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
Best part: The "Admirin' stage." This is when you come to a point at which you can stop your work and sit back to admire it. Nice thing about it is you get several per project. In fact, after a certain point it goes on forever.

Worst part: That moment when I realize I've screwed up so badly there's no chance this one is ever going to be what I meant it to.
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I've been trying to put a bit of spin on this, telling myself it's an "opportunity" to "redesign" the knife. Which is the truth!

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Dave Larsen
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The greatest prayer is patience
-Buddha
 
On a full tang knife I hate the handle work. It seems like no matter how hard I try, getting those pins flush with the wood sucks. She fine sanding on the handle I hate too. I do not mind grinding a blade. In fact I think grinding before and after the heat treat is my favorite. I am no expert yet but I found I have a knack for it. I do make mistakes but usually can correct them somehow. I just did my first recurve blade for my cousin and I was really worried about grinding the area in front of the ricasso where the blade curves back up. I found my niche almost immediately and it turned out really smooth and awesome. My next step on this one is my first guard and I am excited and confident but nervous too. The blade is by far my best yet and I do not want to screw up a good thing with a sloppy guard. Cory

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" I am a shootist."
Clay Allison
" Does this mean we are bladists?"
Vaquero57
McAlpin Bladesmithing
 
theres this feeling on almost every knife were i get a touch of douth that this one is going to come out right. and then it all starts to come together. what a feeling of achivment! my lest favorite is grinding the slage off of the ats-34 steel there some thing about that smell that gets into every thing. my most favorite thing is when the phone rings and its a previous customer that wants to make a order, love it!

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Laurence Segal www.RHINOKNIVES.com
 
I still get a little possesive when turning a blade over to its' new owner...seems there's a big chunk of me in each of my knives, and it's kinda like givin away one of your children (but for a LOT more than I can get for my kids!
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Best part: Forging.
Worst part: Removing scale after heat treat. (It was so pretty before that.) Very discouraging.

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Oz

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken!"
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
I like the heat treat best. When you think about the transformation from soft to hard steel it's just like magic
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