How do i do the handles for these? Drill the block of wood, put a guard and pomel and then shape it? it this more difficult than it looks? Also, how much could i sell a finished kit knife from jantz or texas knifemakers supply? Is it worth it to try to make a bunch and sell them or will I not get too much money from it? my parents don't think i will be able to make more than a few bucks on each blade, but i was wondering if any of you guys have done this with good results. Last question...what was the glue called that can glue a guard to blade w/o soldering or pinning or as a backup to pinning? I though I read something about it like JB Weld or something, but i wasn't sure. thanks!
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hidden tang knives
- Thread starter Taz
- Start date
Taz, Hidden tang blades are put together just like you wrote,then there are those that fit each piece individually. Most new makers started out with kits or through friehds/school. I use a two-ton epoxy mix on some closely fitted guards and use a lock-type pommel or pin the handle. As for money/finnished knives, all is dependent on the QUALITY of your work and the area in which you live. One rule of thumb is double the cost of supllies, add an hrly. rate you and your customers can live with and enjoy. Hope this answered some of your questions. Bearclaw
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- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 5,855
Taz, one thing that could help you sell the knives for a bit more is adding some wow factor to them. Get some spacer material from Jantz and set up a color scheme you like. I use black, white, red, white, black. Also, you might want to try some carving on the back of the blade. I use a Dremel moto tool with the heavy duty cut off discs. You can also carve the guard and sometimes put a starburst pattern in the pommel. All the fancy you can do will add to the value of the knife, even if it is being bought to use. Is there a reason you don't want to silver solder the guards on??? Its easy and not expensive at all.Most important is what Bearclaw said, the quality of your work.Don't take short cuts and don't accept anything that isn't your best. I just put a drop point blade in the wall tonight. It could have made a nice using knife, but the grind just didn't turn out right.
If you need any help with anything, email me anytime. Take care! MIchael
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<A HREF="http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
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"Always</A> think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
If you need any help with anything, email me anytime. Take care! MIchael
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<A HREF="http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
"Always" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
"Always</A> think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
As for the soldering, I don't think my parents like the idea of me using hot objects. My fascination of sharp, pointy objects is bad enough for them and I just don't want to risk killing the heat treat and that type of thing, plus it's more equipment to buy. I am still working on convincing them to let me get a dremel tool, but it's a no go so far. they aren't too thrilled to have me spend $$ on stuff as I am in college and paying some of my way. they don't want to let me get to into it and spend lots of money. I would just start out with plain blades and add stuff to them as I get better and more comfortable with the tools and stuff. Right now, i just to make some quality blades that i can make some money off of and prove to my parents that it is a worthwile hobby. As for thr hidden tang, i did a bowie like that years ago. It was a CVA kit and everything was pre cut, drilled, shaped and everything. You just had to sew the sheath together and put the guard, handle and pommel on and attach the screw. No gluing or shaping or anything. I want simple, good looking stuff that isn't too expensive or complicated to get started and then after that, start adding my own custom stuff to it. i would like to be able to engrave blades and do that stuff, too. I jsut need to get some experience under my belt with spending as little money as possible. I love blades and enjoy looking thru catalogs and online to get ideas, but i am just learning how to put my ideas to work. hopefully my parents will give me to go ahead to get more serious into it, and then I will start to have some fun, esp. if I get a Dremel. I was toying with the idea of making different sclaes for my genesis folder for ha-ha's. I like the idea of filework on the tang and that type of thing, but i dont know what the market is for that where i am. Plus i am at college and away from tools and blades at college, so it would be an on break hobbby. the school would frown on me making blades and grinding micarta in my apartment. Please keep in touch and keep giving me tips on how to do this stuff. I'm a newbie and am looking for stuff to convince my parents to let me do the blades. i actually print off the responses and show them to my parents so they can see i'm not making this stuff up. keep the tips coming, please!
Taz,
Most schools have some type of shop area. Have you checked to see if you can use their's. Maybe somewhere in the art dept.,
I bet there is something on campus you could use. Most craftsmen/artist love to show off their work area/shop/studio etc..
Good luck,
Steve
Most schools have some type of shop area. Have you checked to see if you can use their's. Maybe somewhere in the art dept.,
I bet there is something on campus you could use. Most craftsmen/artist love to show off their work area/shop/studio etc..
Good luck,
Steve
I would go to the shop, but the school is kinda PC and would frown upon that stuff. I am a criminal justice major, so getting caught with blades would be a big no no. I'm not good enough for my stuff to be considered art...i did one knife and didn't get a chance to finish the handles yet. Maybe in a few years, i could do a historic presentation on different knives, like bowies, military blades, etc, but for now, it is a hobby and i wouldn't want to risk getting into trouble just yet. I'm not even allowed to have my gerber microlight LST on campus. School think knives are bad unless they are in the kitchen. It sucks. I miss my blades. Good thing i have a break coming up!
- Joined
- Nov 17, 1999
- Messages
- 676
Hello Taz.
I am in college too, but in Europe. I am doing psychology in Leuven (Belgium). I too am a knifemaker or would-be knife-maker. The college itself here has no problem with me making knives, but my parents do. They think I should spend more time studying. Overall, I can use my dad's tools, and they are quit extensive. Everything but a heat-treath oven, but I intend on making me one this summer. I have made 6 knives so far, and I would sell none. You can see very clearly the progress in them. One day, when you can really make knives, they will be worth a lot more. Imagine you had scagell's first knife. For improving your skills, I say improvise. Then you are not stuck with one tool, and get probably more skill in using it. To use a file properly, I filed a D-2 integral, out of a 10x50x400 mm bar. Think of all the cleaning I had to do in my room when it was done. The floor looked like a rough iron plate. Here comes the clue : I got rid of it (made me some set of engraving tools) because I didn't liked the grind. Power tools only make learing faster, but do not improve your hand-skills. And about money; I never spend lots of money on tools overall 100$, mostly belts. And steel and other stuff : 50$. My big hole in my pocket is my passion for folders, especially the high-class ones, like Benchmades and spydies. I own one of both, but I must have spend about 2000$ on collecting knives.
Mail me freely: Bart.Weijs@student.kuleuven.ac.be
I am in college too, but in Europe. I am doing psychology in Leuven (Belgium). I too am a knifemaker or would-be knife-maker. The college itself here has no problem with me making knives, but my parents do. They think I should spend more time studying. Overall, I can use my dad's tools, and they are quit extensive. Everything but a heat-treath oven, but I intend on making me one this summer. I have made 6 knives so far, and I would sell none. You can see very clearly the progress in them. One day, when you can really make knives, they will be worth a lot more. Imagine you had scagell's first knife. For improving your skills, I say improvise. Then you are not stuck with one tool, and get probably more skill in using it. To use a file properly, I filed a D-2 integral, out of a 10x50x400 mm bar. Think of all the cleaning I had to do in my room when it was done. The floor looked like a rough iron plate. Here comes the clue : I got rid of it (made me some set of engraving tools) because I didn't liked the grind. Power tools only make learing faster, but do not improve your hand-skills. And about money; I never spend lots of money on tools overall 100$, mostly belts. And steel and other stuff : 50$. My big hole in my pocket is my passion for folders, especially the high-class ones, like Benchmades and spydies. I own one of both, but I must have spend about 2000$ on collecting knives.
Mail me freely: Bart.Weijs@student.kuleuven.ac.be
Taz,
You can probably get your drill press work done at school in the drama or theater department. They usually have a shop with power tools for building sets for plays. You may be able to use some of their equipment if you are willing to help build some sets.
Your school maintenance department probably has a couple of shops. If you get a chance to talk to some of the maintenance men, you will probably find one that will help you out. Good Luck!
Does your school have a written policy on personal knives or is it just implied?
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Travis Autry
My knives are just like rabbits---they keep multiplying!!
You can probably get your drill press work done at school in the drama or theater department. They usually have a shop with power tools for building sets for plays. You may be able to use some of their equipment if you are willing to help build some sets.
Your school maintenance department probably has a couple of shops. If you get a chance to talk to some of the maintenance men, you will probably find one that will help you out. Good Luck!
Does your school have a written policy on personal knives or is it just implied?
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Travis Autry
My knives are just like rabbits---they keep multiplying!!
- Joined
- Jan 29, 1999
- Messages
- 48
Taz,
Before you bring one of your "projects" to school (college), make darn sure there are no campus, city, or state laws preventing you from bringing a knife on school grounds.
Make sure you ask the right people, the campus cops, not some drama department head whose "head" is wrapped around a "Shake-spear..."
Good Luck,
Bruce
Before you bring one of your "projects" to school (college), make darn sure there are no campus, city, or state laws preventing you from bringing a knife on school grounds.
Make sure you ask the right people, the campus cops, not some drama department head whose "head" is wrapped around a "Shake-spear..."
Good Luck,
Bruce
Thanks for the tips, but my school has strict rules agaisnt having blades on campus unless they are cooking knives if u have an apartment or a leatherman tool with justification. security does room searches and stuff, and if you get caught, tou get into trouble. it's not worth risking it. I know a bunch of the maintenence guys who helped me with my throwing implements, but i just don't want to risk having blades on campus.