College/Votech classes that help with knifemaking?

etp777

etp777

Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
2,259
Ok all, i'm one of those strange people who actually prefers to learn whenever I can. And while I love the hands on learning i've done with knives, and the great info i've got from y'all, I'm thinking I may take some college courses that might help me with this. And I'm not talking about actual knifemaking/bladesmithign courses, but standard courses that would still apply to knifemaking.

I'm hoping to start this summer or fall with a general welding course from one of the local(or local wherever I move if I do after graduation) votechs/community colleges. I'm trying to think about what else would help me. A general machining/metalworking class would be helpful of course. Especially if I get a minimill. What else can y'all think of that might help? I'd like to take a good applied metallurgy course, but not sure if there are any around here, and not sure where I'm gonna be workign anwyays, as the metallurgy course will msot likely not be offered at night, so would have to work my work schedule around it. Anyone have any other ideas of classes I shoudl look into?
 
a woodworking class would certainly be a help as far as handles are concerned....
 
A woodworking calss will teach you to make a birdhouse. A machine shop class will teach you much more. It will also give you access to milling machines, drill presses, surface grinders and lathes. Much more suited to knifemaking. You could slot guards, and even do some heat treating if they have an oven.
 
etp777:

I'd take anything you could get or afford. Any skills you learn will be useful not only in knifemaking or bladesmithing but for life in general. I wish I'd taken CNC, Materials and engineering classes in college but I stuck with the "white collar" classes. All that I've learned has been useful (if not just for Trivial Pursuit and game shows) and the education pays off now and again. In addition, the information I've been learning about heat treating has been helping me understand my work better. I work in Non Destructive Testing in a metal casting company and during a meeting about a certain part we were having problems with I recognized that the engineer was talking about, that made points with her. Talk about a lucky cross over.

Plus striper28 is right, if you took metalworking classes then you'd have access to all sorts of advanced equipment to work on. But make sure your instructor knows that you'd be working on knives. There was a student in my college that got caught making a gun on the CNC equipment. He did a good job but almost got kicked out, it seems that the college was a bit too PC to handle it.

Good luck with your education!

Joe
 
A basic Drafting or design making class of some kind,Also art classes will help with the designs.

Jewelers classes are a big help when it comes to making knives,you can learn how to do all kinds of cool things to your knives (there are a lot of people that made jewelery first then knives)

A computer class that will teach you how to program the CNC machines to make what ever you want on it..

And of course the metal shop and Machinist classes..

Then study the curves of all the woman on campuss that you can:D ;) :D A knife should flow just like the curves of a beautiful woman..I know this would be a hard thing to do:p but I wish I was young enough to go back to college for this part:D :D :D

Good luck with the schooling..
Bruce
 
Well, Bruce wins with the best answer hands down. :)

But y'all have all brought up some good thigns I haven't thoguth of. Figure I'll be in school on and off for at least next three years, esp. as I hope to do a distance learnign program for an associates degree too, even after I finish bachelor's in May(I hope. :) )


Thanks for all the input
 
We have a Community College here in my town.I haven't been able to find any night classes that would help me out yet.But driving by campus at certain times of the day sure lets you check out all the curves:D :D
I feel like a old perv though since these girls are the same age as my son,Dang I feel old now..
Have fun in school..
Bruce
 
Bruce, is Donna looking that your post here :eek: My wife would whack
me beside the head:eek: both my sons are in collage the
French curves are nice too:D :D I feel old too:( damn I am old
..........naw not yet:D :D
 
If y'all still notice, then you're not too old yet. :)

But I sure wouldn't say something like that in front of my wife. :) If I was married, that is
 
Check with your local school district as well. Here in Texas they offer classes for welding, machine shop, even scuba diving! Now these aren't free, you must pay for them. They are usually held at one of the local high schools. Heck, you can even learn Spanish while you are at it. I have looked into the welding class here in the Katy School district. It is a 6 week course, taught twice a week for $210. Not a bad deal at all.

C Wilkins
 
:D Guess I am lucky again Guys..Donna say's that I am just a man and if a pretty girl walks by it is just natural to look..So I get to look once,she said I can't double take though;) Heck she says I flert with all the woman,I don't think I am but she says I do.Cool thing is I don't get into trouble ynless I start rubbernecking at one and she catches me.Guess it could be worse and her not let me look at all.But then again how am I supposed to see what new style clothes to get that will look good on here:D when she models my knives...
Heck she will even ask if I noticed one and comment on her clothes..
Bruce
 
I think it has already been established many tiems that you're a very lucky man Bruce. Now quit rubbing it in. ;)
 
Sorry...
Just letting you guys know that I wasn't going to get into trouble...

Heck I think some of the best advice my Dad ever gave me when I was young and first started dating was when he said
"Always reserve the right (spelling?) to window shop"

Bruce
 
Bruce you lucky dog you:D

Paul "check for a pulse" what pulse?
I lost that over 25 years ago.:)
 
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