First 2 down, this could be bad...

[oilburner]

So I lurk the Blade forums more than anything else, daily, but I finally have something to share of my own. I've been forging in an ornemantal Iron works shop for 4 years, but by no means am I a black smith. I was a sheet metal shaper for 8 years before that. Now I've started a new job that has nothing to do with either, and that got me rolling on finishing my forst 2 knives. The first one is built from an old file. I annealed it, cut it out, and not having a good bel grinder, filed all the blade profile into it. It has some simple file work on the spine, nothing special. The handle is curly maple, scavanged from a closet being trimmed out in it in a house I worked in while at the forge. It's not stabalized, I knew nothing of it when I started it, and just wanted to get one done to hang in my shop. It's attached with 2 pins that are epoxied through the tang and into the scales. The polishing, huh, well, that's probably my first and last time, lol. Ah yes, I hardened it at work, don't know if it worked great or not, but did sharpen up well when I was done.

Bring on the critiscisim and the advice. I have no materials or know-how fro a sheath at this point, and really need to work on handles. I should have something better (pins, rivets, stainless tubes) for attachment.

 

[oilburner]

My second one I actually froged out of a broken jack hammer bit I was told was O1 tool steel. The handle is again not stabalized (this knife also will go on the shop wall) and is Lace Wood, donated by a friend. I'm not happy with the handle attachment on this one either, which just tell me that handles is where I need to concentrate my focus on the next ones.

I've had a sheet metal shaping shop set up at home for years, but working at a forge never gave me a reason for needing one at home. Well, my home forge is taking shape, and I'll start lokking for a belt grinder now too, lol. The wife thought I was done outfitting the shop...Thats funny. So, what can you suggest for me. What do you see (improvement wise) in my first 2 knives, and what can you suggest for cheap shop equipment, books, etc. Thanks for looking and any advice is welcome. Mark.

 

[12345678910]

So, what can you suggest for me.
What do you see (improvement wise) in my first 2 knives, and
what can you suggest for cheap shop equipment, books, etc.

Those are exactly the questions I am equipped to answer.

Have you seen this ?

The Standard Reply to New Knifemakers v12

The answer to a 13 year old student is different than to a 40 year old engineer.
We may recommend a local supplier, or you may have a helpful neighbour; but that depends on where you are. We have members worldwide.
Fill out your profile with your location (Country and State at least), age, education, employment.

Look at the threads stickied at the top; many are expired, but not all.

The basic process in the simplest terms

Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives-Printable PDF
Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives-Website


Web Tutorials
Detailed instructions by Stacy E.Apelt

The Things I Advise New Knife Makers Against-Printable PDF

Handle Tutorial - Nick Wheeler-Website



Books

A list of books and videos on the KnifeDogs Forum
http://www.knifedogs.com/showthread.php?t=5285

BladeForums - E-books or Google books
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203

I like:
David Boye-Step by Step Knifemaking
Tim McCreight-Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects from a Master Craftsman
These are clear, well organized, widely available and inexpensive too.

Knife Design:
On the Google books thread, you can find
Lloyd Harding drawings
and
the Loveless book with large variety of proven classic styles.
Google books thread


Forging Books:
Lorelei Sims-The Backyard Blacksmith
An excellent modern book with colour photos for forging in general - no knifemaking.

Jim Hrisoulas- has 3 books on forging knives. Check for the cheaper paperback editions.
The Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection
The Pattern-Welded Blade: Artistry in Iron
The Master Bladesmith: Advanced Studies in Steel

Machine Shop Basics -Books:
Elementary Machine Shop Practice-Printable PDF

The Complete Practical Machinist-Printable PDF


The $50 knife Shop
It confused me for a long time.
Forging is NOT necessary; you can just file and grind to create a knife (stock removal)

The goop quench is total Bull, commercial quench oils are available, even grocery store canola oil works much better.

Junkyard steels require skill and experience to identify the steel and heat treat it properly.
You can buy proper steel like 1084FG from Aldo very cheaply.

I like cable damascus, but that advanced project has no place in a beginner’s book.

The home built grinders are the best thing about this book, but there is now a huge amount of info for 2x72” belt grinders on the web, including free plans.


Videos

Heat Treating Basics Video-downloadable
Right click and save this. Watch it once a day for 10 days and you will understand it much better.
http://www.archive.org/download/gov.ntis.ava08799vnb1/ava08799vnb1_512kb.mp4

Many specific how to knifemaking videos are available, some are better than others.

The best overall Knifemaking video I have seen is
“Steve Johnson-Making a Sub-Hilt Fighter”

The best video on leather sheath making I have seen is
“Custom Knife Sheaths -Chuck Burrows - Wild Rose”
-(Paul Long has 2 new videos, his sheath work is fantastic. I hope the videos are too)

You can see a list of videos and reviews at this rental company; some are worth buying, some renting…
They are slow to get new titles and wait times are measured in months,
http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking

Green Pete's Free Video
Making a Mora bushcraft knife, stock removal, hand tools, neo tribal / unplugged heat treat.
"Green Pete" posted it free using torrent files.
Be sure to look at the other titles too.

Greenpete Knifemaking Basics-on TPB

Draw Filing Demonstration
YouTube video -Draw Filing-for a flat finish

Steel
The “welding steel” at Home Depot / Lowes… is useless for knives.
If you send out for heat treating, you can use O1, A2, D2, CM154, ATS34, s30v, 440C, plus many others.

If you heat treat yourself, find some 1070, 1080, 1084,
1084 FG sold by Aldo Bruno is formulated just for knifemaking.

You can find a list of suppliers here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699736

Aldo is highly rated.
http://njsteelbaron.com/
Ph# 862-203-8160

Heat Treating
You can send blades out for heat treating at $10 or $15 per blade for perfect results, and avoid buying the equipment.

This PDF brochure gives a good overview
http://www.buckknives.com/resources/pdf/Paul_Bos_Brochure.pdf

http://www.petersheattreat.com/
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/privacy.php#services
http://www.knifemaker.ca/ (Canadian)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9143684&postcount=7

Grinder / Tools

Hand Tools
You can do it all by hand with files and abrasive cloth like the Green Pete video.

Photo of a nice bevel filing jig .
http://www.flemingknives.com/imagesPrime/FileStation/KPicB007.jpg

Entry Level Grinders
Many makers start with the Sears Craftsman 2x42 belt grinder.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921513000P?prdNo=3

Commercial Production 2 x 72” Belt Grinders
http://www.prometheanknives.com/shop-techniques-3/grinders

Mapp arm – Grinder Toolrest
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466024


DIY 2 x 72” Belt Grinders

KMG Clone
Free Plans
http://www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdf

NWG No Weld Grinder
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/plans-for-the-no-weld-grinder-sander-nearly-50-pages-p-723.html

EERF Grinder (EERF =“Free” backwards)
Free plans
http://wilmontgrinders.com/EERFGrinder.aspx
http://blindhogg.com/blueprints.html
http://www.atlasknife.com


Buy the kit
http://polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html


Safety Equipment
I have a sign at my shop door, “Eyes, Ears, Fingers, Lungs” as a reminder to take off jewelry and put on my safety gear.

Respirators

Those paper paint masks are about as effective as using a sock for a condom.

The minimum I would consider are the 3M and North silicone half masks;
even better are the powered positive pressure fresh air systems.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=788837
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726309


V12 Edited dead links

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Those look great! I really like both of them, the mirror finish and scales make it look like you have been doing this for a while. The rough forged look the second one has is really cool, I probably like it even more than the first one!

If you aren't happy with the scale attachment on the second one re-do it until you are. I have to do this all the time because I'm just starting out as well.

 

[Carl_First_Timer]

I really like the curly maple handle, with the little "cutouts".

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Very nice!

 

[Angus McGunnigl]

The shine on #1 is really nice.

 

[oilburner]

Thanks for al the replys, computer went down or I would have been back sooner. I'm on to #now, and going through all the info posted in the first reply as time (lack of sleep) allows. This is a whole new realm of metal work for me, mixing in the handles and such is really bringing a whole new train of thought to me. Thanks again. Mark.