ashwinearl
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2006
- Messages
- 562
Hi everyone,
*warning- picture intensive*
I wanted to formally introduce myself after being here many years but only recently returning tho the craft and jumping in the deep end. My first name is Ashwin, middle name Earl. My handle has been ashwinearl as long as I can remember on email and forums.
Unlike many here, I don’t hunt, fish, shoot, practice martial arts, or am much of an outdoorsman outside of mountain biking/cycling. The fact is, I struggle to explain my desire to make knives. When I tell people I make knives, after that first question of, “like forged in fire,” I get that surprised look and statement, “You make knives”. It is that weird hobby that your wife talks about quizzically. She doesn’t get it but tolerates it very well from the grinder noise, dirty pants/hands, to tempering knives in the toaster oven.
At the fundamental level, I just like the craft. There is some brain chemical that is released when working and completing a knife and a sheath that exceeds that of past hobbies, like woodworking. The act of taking some raw materials that alone are meaningless and creating something tangible is an amazing feeling. Making something real and functional that has the potential for some legacy is compelling. The journey of learning and developing techniques is going to be never ending. Frustrating for sure, but rewarding.
I think the first step towards this path was in 1989 with a drive to learn about sharpening. In those days of libraries, I came across John Jurantich’s book. Somehow, that led to articles and books about knife making, like Tim McCreight, The first Barney/Loveless book, and David Boye’s book. I made a handful over the years with a hacksaw, files and sandpaper. That led to going to some knife shows and starting a modest collection for a little bit.
The process was so laborious, I dropped it for awhile. I took a basic class at the Montgomery Community College in 2008 with real 2x72 grinders. Unfortunately, I didn’t leverage that excitement by getting a belt grinder and continuing to develop skills. While I didn’t make much, as a researcher and searcher at heart, I have been collecting information from the forums, blogs, books for years. I’ve got pages bookmarked and posts copy/pasted from a decade ago.
This winter, I told myself I had to get back into something creative. Here in upstate NY, I really needed something to get me through the winter. It had been years since making something either a knife or woodworking. I’d just been moving my tools from house to house. In 2014, I'd actually come across one of those rare craigslist 2x72 grinders. It was a work-in-progress grinder-in-box with an ugly rattle can paint job and several holes tapped off center. For the next 4 years, I proceeded to move it around from corner to corner of the basement. This January, I started working on it and got it running a few months later. The expensive slide into materials, supplies, and equipment started and I cringe when I look at the receipts.
I started with a jig and couldn’t even do that. With frustration mounting, I just decided to free-hand and accept that I would burn up steel and belts. I’m making progress, and am slowly feeling some fleeting confidence. I had a bad experience with a heat treating service, and good one with another. This was sort of a blessing in disguise, as it prompted me to make my own baby forge, research and try heat treating. This is opening up another journey can of worms.
This community is another driver for any success. It is such a wonderful place where information is shared freely and encouragement is the norm. I would appreciate feedback on design, execution. The question of selling is on my mind as well. Are these good enough? Should I just give them away and wait till I develop better fit/finish.
My goals for knife making are
*warning- picture intensive*
I wanted to formally introduce myself after being here many years but only recently returning tho the craft and jumping in the deep end. My first name is Ashwin, middle name Earl. My handle has been ashwinearl as long as I can remember on email and forums.
Unlike many here, I don’t hunt, fish, shoot, practice martial arts, or am much of an outdoorsman outside of mountain biking/cycling. The fact is, I struggle to explain my desire to make knives. When I tell people I make knives, after that first question of, “like forged in fire,” I get that surprised look and statement, “You make knives”. It is that weird hobby that your wife talks about quizzically. She doesn’t get it but tolerates it very well from the grinder noise, dirty pants/hands, to tempering knives in the toaster oven.
At the fundamental level, I just like the craft. There is some brain chemical that is released when working and completing a knife and a sheath that exceeds that of past hobbies, like woodworking. The act of taking some raw materials that alone are meaningless and creating something tangible is an amazing feeling. Making something real and functional that has the potential for some legacy is compelling. The journey of learning and developing techniques is going to be never ending. Frustrating for sure, but rewarding.
I think the first step towards this path was in 1989 with a drive to learn about sharpening. In those days of libraries, I came across John Jurantich’s book. Somehow, that led to articles and books about knife making, like Tim McCreight, The first Barney/Loveless book, and David Boye’s book. I made a handful over the years with a hacksaw, files and sandpaper. That led to going to some knife shows and starting a modest collection for a little bit.
The process was so laborious, I dropped it for awhile. I took a basic class at the Montgomery Community College in 2008 with real 2x72 grinders. Unfortunately, I didn’t leverage that excitement by getting a belt grinder and continuing to develop skills. While I didn’t make much, as a researcher and searcher at heart, I have been collecting information from the forums, blogs, books for years. I’ve got pages bookmarked and posts copy/pasted from a decade ago.
This winter, I told myself I had to get back into something creative. Here in upstate NY, I really needed something to get me through the winter. It had been years since making something either a knife or woodworking. I’d just been moving my tools from house to house. In 2014, I'd actually come across one of those rare craigslist 2x72 grinders. It was a work-in-progress grinder-in-box with an ugly rattle can paint job and several holes tapped off center. For the next 4 years, I proceeded to move it around from corner to corner of the basement. This January, I started working on it and got it running a few months later. The expensive slide into materials, supplies, and equipment started and I cringe when I look at the receipts.
I started with a jig and couldn’t even do that. With frustration mounting, I just decided to free-hand and accept that I would burn up steel and belts. I’m making progress, and am slowly feeling some fleeting confidence. I had a bad experience with a heat treating service, and good one with another. This was sort of a blessing in disguise, as it prompted me to make my own baby forge, research and try heat treating. This is opening up another journey can of worms.
This community is another driver for any success. It is such a wonderful place where information is shared freely and encouragement is the norm. I would appreciate feedback on design, execution. The question of selling is on my mind as well. Are these good enough? Should I just give them away and wait till I develop better fit/finish.
My goals for knife making are
- Maintain momentum. I have a habit of going whole hog on something and then dropping it. This has been one thing that I’ve returned to over a long period, so am hopeful it will continue
- Focus on the fundamentals. Plunge lines, symmetry, edge geometry, removing lines from previous grits, gaps in handles, basic fit/finish
- Try Ferric chloride etch and tumble finish
- Try tapered tangs
- Make a slip joint
- Make a liner lock
- Make a kitchen knife
- Develop my own designs. Currently, I typically take a picture I like, hold a paper up to the monitor and trace it, then modify from there
- Learn more, and develop better heat treating with some better temperature control
- Improve sheath making, like using a chisel and awl instead of drill press. Try Kydex
- Slowly build my equipment, like a small wheel holder, and disc grinder
- Sell some. A second income is not the main driver, but it would be nice to offset the cost of supplies. Making something by hand that someone feels willing to spend their hard earned money on is an honor I strive to.
