Formal Classes vs Books, Forums, Practice in the forge

[Fat Goat Forge]

I was wondering about what path's knifemakers both hobby and professional have taken to aquire the knowaldge to get where they are today. And what different learning opportunities they would participate in if they had the ability to do it all over again.

I am a new knifemaker wanna be but have the advantage of being a farrier, ergo owning several propane forges that I use each day to shape horseshoes. I am a knife collector and have some feel for what makes a good blade. I have purchased and read the usual dozen or so books everbody recommends and am enjoying visiting the many websites that forum members have out there with heat treat and other information and have found videos on you tube of folks forging various blades. I have made 2 knives so far and the heat treat went well but artistically they really sucked pretty much falling more in the "sharpened bar of steel" category. My next forging projects will involve more curves. I feel like practice practice practice is the next step.

I am considering enrolling in a class at The New England Metalworking school this summer. Its an ASB certified school that happens to be 20 miles from my house here in maine. For me as a self employed individual in a tough economy its a big investment but I am fortunate to have no travel or hotel expenses just the tuition itself which will be $775 for the class I am considering which is a "Knife Making 101 class". The Guest Instructor will be Burt Foster and I went to his website and it resonated for me. I think I will enjoy the class and learn a lot from him.

I guess one question is would it be foolish to skip the class to save a few bucks especially considering how darn close I am to the school.

IME at learning the trade of horseshoeing all of the above was necessary. Books, videos, formal classes, and also and probably most importantly spending time with master farriers who were willing to let me tag along and sponge up information.



George in Maine

 

[12345678910]

I wish I was that close.

You have more learning opportunities close by than I do, take them.


I don't know anyone that said an ABS class wasn't worth it.

 

[Mark Behnke]

I guess one question is would it be foolish to skip the class to save a few bucks especially considering how darn close I am to the school.

IME at learning the trade of horseshoeing all of the above was necessary. Books, videos, formal classes, and also and probably most importantly spending time with master farriers who were willing to let me tag along and sponge up information.



George in Maine

I say take the class.

 

[JMJones]

I live in Bangor and also have attended the New England School of metal work. I would reccomend taking that class or the class with howard clark on making a japanese sword. If you did not have any experiance, I would reccomend using that money to buy an anvil and a forge, but since you already have that and experiance hammering metal, learning from true professionals can take you much quicker to the next level.

I took Howards class even though I have very little interst in making a sword. However I got to spend five full days with a master craftsman looking over my shoulder and critiquing techniques and answering questions. It was well worth the price of admission.

Also dont miss the hammer in in July. It is much cheaper and you can see alot of work and techniques from several master and journeyman smiths and it is a great time.

 

[lazlo]

I am considering enrolling in a class at The New England Metalworking school this summer. Its an ASB certified school that happens to be 20 miles from my house here in maine. For me as a self employed individual in a tough economy its a big investment but I am fortunate to have no travel or hotel expenses just the tuition itself which will be $775 for the class I am considering which is a "Knife Making 101 class". The Guest Instructor will be Burt Foster and I went to his website and it resonated for me. I think I will enjoy the class and learn a lot from him.

The New England School of Metalwork is superb -- I took Howard Clark's katana class there. Highly recommended.

I'm considering taking Burt's class, and I've already taken the 2 week ABS Intro to Bladesmithing class. And it's a *lot* further for me

 

[Salem Straub]

I'd sure take any of the classes mentioned if I was nearby, or could afford it. Burt Foster makes beautiful knives, I'm sure that I could learn plenty even in his "Knives 101" class. Katana class with Howard Clark would be AWESOME.

I wouldn't trade anything for having gotten to learn with Ken Onion for a few months. That really turned my work around. Ray Rogers has also been a big help to me, other than that I'm self taught through books, forums, and obsession.

 

[David Loukides]

The path ways to being a good knife maker is as varied as the different types of knives made.
I had a toolmaker back round but never moved metal with a hammer.
I had never worked with wood so to speak.
After reading books like How to make a knives, and the Wonder of knife making I visited a knife makers shop.
Built my first grinder off of the basic Ideas I saw in his shop and started making stock removal blades.
After deciding to learn how to forge blades I took the ABS Basic Bladesmithing course.:thumbup::thumbup: It was worth the money to get a jump on the learning curve.
Hammer ins and other classes followed. (Damascus making class is next)

What is important to me.
Learn from my mistakes. (It all is a learning experience)
Advance in skill slow enough to learn but fast enough to keep my interest.
Find a knife makers work that I like, figure out what I like about it, then try to apply the it to my knives. Case in point on this would be I like clean looking knives so I try to make my knives clean looking.

I Hope this was helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Dave

 

[mgysgthath]

I would also take the class, if I was nearby.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Burt Foster is a great smith, but on top of that he is also a great teacher. Your money will be well spent on this particular class.

From what I have seen of Burt's teaching and style, he will show you practical and real knifemaking. It is great to watch and learn how a Japanese sword is made, but it is much more useful to learn how a good knife is made...and be able to use that skill and knowledge to make a very similar knife yourself.

 

[Fat Goat Forge]

Burt Foster is a great smith, but on top of that he is also a great teacher. Your money will be well spent on this particular class.

From what I have seen of Burt's teaching and style, he will show you practical and real knifemaking. It is great to watch and learn how a Japanese sword is made, but it is much more useful to learn how a good knife is made...and be able to use that skill and knowledge to make a very similar knife yourself.

Check and enrollment form are in the mail for Burt's Class in June.



George in Maine

 

[lonepine]

George in Maine
Are you SURE you want to take a class and have someone just show and tell you how to do things properly, and then give you feedback and ideas of how to improve your skills? Not ME! No! I'd rather blunder in blindly and make a bunch of stupid mistakes and learn that way. It's the traditional knife making way. I want to learn to make knives the worst way possible, and this is probably the worst way possible. ;-)

If you have the opportunity and means of taking the class do so, and then share EVERYTHING that you learned with us!

And by the way, Is this a picture of a knife you made?

- Paul Meske

 

[Fat Goat Forge]

Paul,

LOL

I Love, Love, Love the "Horseshoe Knife". To bad horseshoes are made of low carbon steel as I have tons of used ones but alas they would not harden well.

I do as a by product of my work have tons of used "Mercury" brand horse rasps. I have been unable to get any data on the steel composition but they seem to respond well to heat treating as if they were 1095 or w-1. I'm doing my current knife projects with aldo's 1084 and the used files.

I will certainly post any cool tips from the class. Going to be held end of june but the school said better sign up now as things fill up fast once they are posted on their website.

George in Maine