can someone school me on blade ergonomics

[Aerose91]

I feel that i know a little but probably not nearly what i can know. Im also interested in learning about blade/handle balance since im considering designing my own knife since i cant find the right one. More info the better.

 

[marcinek]

Wow. This is even more unanswerable than your "carbon vs stainless" question. Any knife designed for a specific task has it own specific balance (which is not really "ergonomics, which is, to steal from WikiPedia, "study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body").

If you are designing knives and don't know what the balance should be, you really need step back and go and use knives. Can't design decent knives without doing that. :thumbup:

 

[jkwithawave]

If you are designing knives and don't know what the balance should be, you really need step back and go and use knives. Can't design decent knives without doing that. :thumbup:

Excellent answer right there.

 

[A Justice]

I believe what you're asking about is geometry and efficiency OP.

 

[marcinek]

I believe what you're asking about is geometry and efficiency OP.

Choppers have many different blade geometries but similar balance (if they are designed right). I believe our new friend is asking about balance.

Though blade geometry is even more important, in my opinion, than balance! :thumbup:

 

[RevDevil]

Don't put the cart before the horse. There is an entire section here that is devoted to such things, reading and searching through it will not only answer several if not all of your current questions, but will save you time and energy, as well as open your mind to new more appropriate questions:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/741-Shop-Talk-BladeSmith-Questions-and-Answers

As marcinek suggested, before you can design a great knife with great ergonomics, you must go and use various knives and see what works, what doesn't, and figure out if and how you can improve upon an already existing system. A lot has been accomplished, but there is still a lot of room for functional innovation.

 

[K.O.D.]

Blade ergonomics? I generally do not grasp a knife by the blade, but that's just me. Like the devil said, there is a section for what you are interested in.

 

[A Justice]

Choppers have many different blade geometries but similar balance (if they are designed right). I believe our new friend is asking about balance.

I should have read his post more carefully lol. I just saw the "blade ergonomics" in the title, and figured he misused the term as a catch all for efficient design.



As for balance and handling properties OP, go to a knife store and handle some knives. You'll need to handle quite a few and actually use them at their intended tasks to make above average handling and balance characteristics in a home made blade though. A knife like a chopper benefits from a CG that is a little further forward, but for most knives I would say keep the weight down and try and balance it just forward of your grip. Somebody else might be able to give you a wider opinion, or a more refined answer.

 

[marcinek]

I just saw the "blade ergonomics" in the title, and figured he misused the term as a catch all for efficient design.

As for balance and handling properties OP, go to a knife store and handle some knives.

I think you are correct on both of those points.

Aerose I applaud you wanting to get into building knives...I wish I could do it! But you gotta know what works to have an idea of how to make something that works. Then you gotta get all that expertise needed to actually make it.

You can do it. :thumbup:

 

[RevDevil]

I think you are correct on both of those points.

Aerose I applaud you wanting to get into building knives...I wish I could do it! But you gotta know what works to have an idea of how to make something that works. Then you gotta get all that expertise needed to actually make it.

You can do it. :thumbup:

Hey man, don't tell me you've given up on the "Marcinek Survival Hammer"....You got something worth pursuing there.

 

[marcinek]

Hey man, don't tell me you've given up on the "Marcinek Survival Hammer"....You got something worth pursuing there.

Oh my, no. Though, truth be told, all it takes to make the Marcinek Survival Hammer is to pick up a rock and spray paint it orange. Not much skill, but you gotta find the right rock.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Hey, Marc...with enough taps and a bit of luck, you could end up with a hammer AND a knife.
sonny

 

[Aerose91]

Well hey, this is why i ask

 

[Sonnydaze]

im considering designing my own knife since i cant find the right one.

I will entertain one caveat for you, sir. I was in that same position about two hundred yrs ago, when I was a young fellow, and designed a nice drop-point full-tang knife. I then cut a sample out of Lucite (plastic sheet), sanded it, and it was great...IMO.
Then, I bought some hi-tech steel from some mill in Minnesota for a lot of money. All that was left was to cut and grind. Well, I borrowed the expensive bandsaw(s) at a hospital I worked at, and promptly dulled and broke several bandsaw blades,...much to the despair and chagrin of the CARPENTRY SHOP folks who used those saws on a daily basis.
My standing in their eyes, and my own, was lowered rather significantly by that little faux pas. I never went any further with making knives, regardless of the fact that I had memorized everything that Blackie Collins had to say at the time.
So, once you begin all this stuff, make sure that you start out with a blade-steel that can be worked with reasonable tooling...band-saws and sanders/grinders.
And I wish you well.
In a couple of yrs, perhaps you can sell me a knife...
Sonnydaze