First knife attempt (question)

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Wow, great thread! I found this while trying to re-find the post from 1234567890 about knifemaking - I had stumbled across it before but failed to bookmark it. Not only did I find his post, but this thread now has me totally pumped up about giving it a shot. Michael, if I can produce anything half as good as you have with my first attempt, I will be more than pleased. Great job, man!
 
Awesome!!

Those scales are gonna be great too!

I haven't built a one-brick forge yet, but only because I have a friend with an oven. With a plumbers torch and a firebrick you could quench in canola, goop, or something else common and temper in a $5 flea market toaster oven.

Keep going, I can't wait to see the end!

-Daizee
 
MogiMoe, I appreciate the comments however, the more I read and research this forum, the more I am kind of embarrassed by that little piece of steel. The precision and detail that I continue to see from the makers here in this very forum makes you realize, I might be close to creating what looks like a knife, but years and many attempts away from being able to create what I continue to see here.

Just keep reading. I ordered a book which got lost in the mail, yet I don't even miss it. I found a forum with the best of the best. Just stick right here. The WIP threads are filled with an insane amount of information, and again, very humbling. I read for a long time before I started this thread and now I wish I would have waited even longer.

I still don't have that little blade back from heat treatment, so we have yet to see how it finishes out. With no drill press or any real means of precision, I'm a little nervous about drilling and assembling the scales. I really want to be proud of this one. But every time I read just a little more, the more I realize it's a skill far beyond my current capacity.

Have fun with it, and don't start pretending to be a knife maker after your first attempt is my only other suggestion.
 
MHill said:
MogiMoe, I appreciate the comments however, the more I read and research this forum, the more I am kind of embarrassed by that little piece of steel. The precision and detail that I continue to see from the makers here in this very forum makes you realize, I might be close to creating what looks like a knife, but years and many attempts away from being able to create what I continue to see here.

Just keep reading. I ordered a book which got lost in the mail, yet I don't even miss it. I found a forum with the best of the best. Just stick right here. The WIP threads are filled with an insane amount of information, and again, very humbling. I read for a long time before I started this thread and now I wish I would have waited even longer.

I still don't have that little blade back from heat treatment, so we have yet to see how it finishes out. With no drill press or any real means of precision, I'm a little nervous about drilling and assembling the scales. I really want to be proud of this one. But every time I read just a little more, the more I realize it's a skill far beyond my current capacity. Have fun with it, and don't start pretending to be a knife maker after your first attempt is my only other suggestion.
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Not beyond your capacity at all. Your doing great. I have been doing this for a lot of years and sometimes I still make an ugly knife. My bigest advantage is I can make ugly knives faster now.
 
I still make an ugly knife. My bigest advantage is I can make ugly knives faster now.

That was great! I seriously laughed at that one.
 
No illusions of being a great knifemaker on my first attempt. I will be happy if I can just produce something that vaguely resembles a knife. ;)
 
You are really making it look easy. I just started my first knife not that long ago and I'm having a heck of a time with it. Good job! Can you explain that filing jig to me? How does it work with the knife and file? Keep up the good work and you'll be the one peole are asking the questions of sooner than later!
 
I freehand filed that first little blade. I knew pretty quick that I had made a mistake. I prefer a convex edge off of a flat grind. What I ended up with, was a full convex from spine down sharing tangent lines. It took some doing to get it all to blend and eliminate any tangent connection lines, which was difficult with limited resources.

This second blade I set up my fist angle on the jig at about 15 degrees and set the secondary bevel. Then I flattened out the angle and started on the flat grind. It's been slow and I'm still making a lot of mistakes. I took too much material off at the plunge line and to even it out, it got way too thin. I'm afraid my edge is going to be too thin and crack during heat treatment.

Here is the link to the jig I made mine after. It's pretty basic.

LINK
 
Hi Michael,

I'm a new member here, but I've been making knives for a couple years; mostly by stock removal, but now I'm getting into forging them. From the beginning, Harbor Freight has been my friend. The tools aren't high-end, and you can tell from the feel that they aren't the kind of thing you'll have long enough to pass down to your grandkids, but they have done the trick for a beginner like me.

Three tools that have been really useful to me are these:

A 4" angle grinder. Cheap (around $20), and a lot of help when cutting out blanks and doing some of the initial VERY rough shaping of the bevels.

1"x30" belt sander. It's no high-end belt grinder/sander, but I've used it to make a few dozen knives, and for about $35 it can't be beat. I use a variety of grits to grind and refine the bevels on my knives. I don't use any jigs, so I've had to really pay attention to my posture and hand positioning, but it has worked for me.

$20 propane weed burning torch. I learned early on that I couldn't afford to send off every one of my knives for heat treatment, so I studied up on doing it myself. Before I built a gas forge, I used this propane torch for heat treatment. I would aim it into one of those charcoal starters (looks like a big coffee can with holes at the bottom) to create a concentrated area of heat, and I clamped my blade in a pair of vise-grips to hold it steady in the path of the flame. I used vegetable oil for the quench and I tempered in the oven in my kitchen. (I even tempered a couple blades in the oven while the wife was making Thanksgiving dinner -- good thing the turkey cooks at 350 degrees.)

Only now that I'm forging have I learned the value of draw-filing. It's a great way for me to keep flat areas flat, and to remove a lot of material if necessary.

I'm sorry to hear about your lean times. I know it feels bad right now, but from the way you're attacking this knife project of yours, you seem like the kind of guy with the gumption to land on your feet.

Like I said, I'm a relative newcomer to this knifemaking stuff, but if I can be of any help. I'll gladly help any way I can. (And if I go so far as to give advice, be sure you verify it with another source...I'm not so sure of myself that anything I say should be taken as the final word :))

Good luck to you! I can't wait to see how your knife turns out!
 
Thank Michael! That will help a ton! I plan to try my hand at cutting filing and HT'ing my own blade. Hope I have half the success you have! Keep it up man!
 
One and done. That's how I'm feeling right about now. I'm glad I tried it, but the only way I'll ever do it again is if I find someone to let me sweep the shop, was their car, and learn from a real pro. That, and some proper tools could help.

I still have some clean up around the scales but this is as done as this knife is going to get for now. All the props I already had for you guys who make knives just multiplied by 10. The lighting sucks out today and it's hard to see, but I'm really liking the color of the bone. The attempt at jigging is pretty weak, but I'm good with it.

All said and done, I like it. It's an ugly little knife that will get some ugly blood and guts use. I really like a small knife for skinning and this one is really comfortable when you pinch the blade and let the butt go into the palm.

Thank you all for helping me though it.

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I think it looks pretty good; especially since you didn't have a grinder.

Having a good grinder makes it 1000X easier.
 
Dude, that is not ugly! The lines are very graceful and the scales are very creative. I am so impressed at the results of your first knife! It took me a year to get where you are now.

-Daizee
 
MHill said:
One and done. That's how I'm feeling right about now. I'm glad I tried it, but the only way I'll ever do it again is if I find someone to let me sweep the shop, was their car, and learn from a real pro. That, and some proper tools could help...

...Thank you all for helping me though it.
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Thank YOU for sharing your journey with us. I learn much from brave souls like you are willing to put yourself out there for everyone to see and comment about. It's not an easy thing to do.

You have just completed the most difficult knife of your life. It's no wonder that you have doubts about doing it all again. You have learned so much in the process and have done a very good job of making your first knife. I predict that you will make more knives in the future.

- LonePine
Alias Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
Nothing to be ashamed of there! WIthout a grinder it takes a huge amount of time but that knife looks really good actually! Don't give up man!
 
No, don't stop just yet. I think it turned out pretty darn good. Remember I said in the beginning that I liked the bone handles? I think they turned out really cool. You need to remember that you did that all by yourself, and without a grinder. I would encourage you to do it some more and see what you can come up with.

I like it:thumbup:
 
I hear you. I know I can do better. I guess that's the frustrating part. The scales and detail aren't there because I literally had to use a file to get them to shape and it really distorted the brass liners. I'm proud as hell because it's number 1, and frustrated by my current situation and lack of ability to purchase the proper equipment.

I'm serious though. I'm all about paying your dues and working hard to pay off the debt of knowledge. I plan on looking around my area and finding a maker who would be willing to teach me some things in trade for my labor.

In the meantime, I get the enjoyment of reading and watching you guys, knowing first hand that there is nothing easy about what you are all able to do with steel.
 
Some of the most comfortable most usable knives I've seen and used were "ugly" knives. On the same note some of the prettiest knives I've seen were what sum would say are ugly knives. Seems at times form and function is the beauty of it and goes hand and hand with ugly. If that makes sense?! Point being that a nice knife friend who's form and function should do you years of good service...look toward to seeing your next journey in knifemaking.
 
I think it looks great, it was somewhat ambitious in design and well executed, keep it up! The liners are a really nice touch.
 
I think it looks great. There are a lot of other first knives--even tenth knives--that don't look that good.

So you've learned some, and realized that you need to learn more.

Now go make another knife!
 
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