Help the new guy please! (me)

H

hmbleservant

Joined
Oct 28, 2013
Messages
10
Hello everyone, I want to make knives! I've hesitated too many times over the years due to being a perfectionist that wants to know everything before beginning :rolleyes:. I've decided today that I am going to make a knife now no matter what it takes. :nevreness:

My father loaned me this today:
http://www.rockler.com/product_popup.cfm?page=18206

Will it work? What kind of belts should I buy?

I think I'm going to get a piece of 1095 flat stock from the local knife supply shop and go at it.

Any advise is welcomed and appreciated...thanks!
 
Do you have any hand files? If you dad had that delta then he probably has files. That would be an easier approach to removing metal. No to say some haven't used that power tool from the get go. Good luck and please post photos as you go along.

Welcome.
 
Welcome. Go to the top of the page and read the stickies by Bladsmth. You will learn a lot there. Look at other posts by new members asking questions just like you and learn from what you read there. The fast answer to your question is yes, you can use that belt grinder. You can get the 1095 (not a good choice for a first knife, btw) and just go at it and maybe get a knife. That's the way we did it 20 Years ago before Bladeforums. You would be much better off spending time reading and learning from the experience from the makers here on the forums rather than learning by making all of the mistakes by yourself.
 
well. he has a wood working shop so I don't know if he would have the right kind of files. what kind of files do I need?

Let me ask ya'll this...are there different kinds of belts depending on whether you are working with wood or metal. In other words are 60 grit belts 60 grit belts or do I need some specifically for metal?
 
hmbleservant said:
are there different kinds of belts depending on whether you are working with wood or metal. In other words are 60 grit belts 60 grit belts or do I need some specifically for metal?
Click to expand...
The link that addresses this question in the stickies is outdated, here is the current one.
http://http://usaknifemaker.com/abrasive-belt-basics-what-kind-should-i-buy.html
Everything we need to know for our first year + of knife making is spelled out for us in the stickies. It is an incredible resource not even taking into account that it is free for the reading.
 
hmbleservant said:
well. he has a wood working shop so I don't know if he would have the right kind of files. what kind of files do I need?

Let me ask ya'll this...are there different kinds of belts depending on whether you are working with wood or metal. In other words are 60 grit belts 60 grit belts or do I need some specifically for metal?
Click to expand...



There are numerous belt options with different intended uses. There have been a number of threads on belts, and which ones are favored by different makers. Do a search and you will find a lot of good info.
 
hmbleservant said:
Hello everyone, I want to make knives! I've hesitated too many times over the years due to being a perfectionist that wants to know everything before beginning :rolleyes:. I've decided today that I am going to make a knife now no matter what it takes. :nevreness:

My father loaned me this today:
http://www.rockler.com/product_popup.cfm?page=18206

Will it work? What kind of belts should I buy?

I think I'm going to get a piece of 1095 flat stock from the local knife supply shop and go at it.

Any advise is welcomed and appreciated...thanks!
Click to expand...

You've taken a step in the right direction, finding bladeforums BEFORE making your first knife.

One thing you need to consider is how are you going to heat treat the 1095. If you don't have the proper means to HT the steel, I would highly recommend sending it out for heat treat, to a reputable provider that works with carbon steel knife blades. that way, being a beginner, you should end up with a very good blade regardless of the rest of the knife. who knows, you could knock it out of the park on your first try but we all have to start somewhere, otherwise there would never be any room for improvement.

Try to get spheroidized annealed 1095 if you can, it will make it easier in the belts and/or files.
 
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