How about a beginning knifemaker FAQ?

J

jeffj

Joined
Apr 8, 1999
Messages
439
I have this idea...mainly because I am serious about starting to make my own knives. But, I have a great many questions. I would like to start an FAQ that would address some questions on starting the craft as in:

What hand tools should I purchase?

What large machines should I have?

Are there recommendations on machines to
buy or to avoid? What are the pros/cons?

What steel should I use for my first knife?

What steels are more difficult to work?

How many belts does it take to grind a knife?

What grades of belts should I use in the process of grinding? What is the finest grade? The coursest grade?

Do I need a buffer? What rouge would you recommend?

What materials make good handles? Are there any natural materials to avoid at first?

What recommendations are there for the glue? Brands?

What are the different types of rivets used? Recommendations?

Well, you see what I'm getting at: us greenhorns need a lot of help!

I know that some of you make knives full/part-time. You are the experts in this forum and have a great many do's/don'ts that I would like to hear about. I would be willing to collect this information together with the blessing of Darrel and post it to the BladeForums knowledge base with the blessings of Mike.

Here's what I want to do: post a question to this forum as in the above but it would be identified as:
FAQ: What is the best steel to use for my first knife?
This way everyone could give their opinion and I would distill this information and place it back on the forum for review.

I have a few other ideas but this post is getting kinda long...I'll open it up to others to comment.

jj
 
I suggest you get some back issues of BLADE and look at Wayne Goddard's work. He has two monthly columns, one of which has for some time been devoted to making knives with a minimum of equipment and investment.



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Regards,
Desert Rat

 
Great idea.

Sort of like upgrading the books on knifemaking already out there into the 1990's. Given that most of those books are 15-20 years old, they don't incorporate advances in materials, tooling ( variable speed!!!!!) finishing/buffing etc.
 
If you look at the history of this shop talk forum, I think most of these thing have been addressed. If you have specific questions that havent been addressed in the archives
please bring them forward.
I feel the shop talk forum is a large faq on knife making:}

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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!




 
Darrel,

This is true, and while I can look at the archive I'd question its completeness. What I want is a forum effort here to give a fairly complete look at the questions from you, George, Rob, etc. I think that if we had something "chewed" on and "digested" it would be more easily accessible and valuable than the archive. Think of it as distilling the archive into an FAQ (and then some).

All I really wanted to do is contribute something back! I could do like many others and dig up the information by asking a lot of questions on forums and emails, looking at old books and articles in magazines (and I do), but I wanted it to benefit those here who had the same questions. Besides, I would do most of the work and do all the writing, I was looking for a little input from those with the experience so that we could all benefit from this untapped body of knowledge.

jj

[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 16 July 1999).]
 
Collecting all of this knowledge in one place is a good idea but it would be a little like trying to collect all of the information about chosing the ideal computer.

As soon as it is written down it is obsolete because of recent advances. The other problem is that each of us has only a small part of the equation and are trying to learn from each other.

I am always trying to meet other makers and gleaning what scraps of information I can from each one. Knife shows are a great place to pick up information especially when the crowds are small and the makers there have time to talk. This forum is like a knife show only better because it is never over it just goes on and on.



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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 
Thanks for the kind offers of advice. But before I begin, let me clear up a little bit of confusion I may have started. This is only a BEGINNING knifemaker's FAQ. I can certainly appreciate George's reply. A craft such as this is full of tradition that each maker gains through experience, but it is a field that is also impacted by technology. This is a bite I don't want to chew right now. I'm sure that you all will be able to easily answer my questions and probably agree for the most part.
wink.gif
They are that simple. But, on the other hand, this will free up the forum to endulge in such "philosophical" questions about the craft that we all seek to debate and learn from. I think it will be a nice collection of basic knowledge that will help to interest others in starting as I am.

Another thing I want to point out is that I don't see this as a week long or a month long project. This will take a couple of months (at least) to do right. Especially to allow everybody who wants to, to reply.

I suppose that I will take the next day or so and come up with a set of questions. I won't set the questions in stone, but will leave them open to the direction in responses. Look at them as a starting point.

Well enough said. Thanks Darrel, George. If anybody else would like to participate, please, feel free.

jj

P.S. George, the ideal computer is a borrowed one!

[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 16 July 1999).]
 
A great basic text is blades'n stuff catalog. It6 may not be available now though. It opened my eyes to alot of possibilities. Bob Engnath gave me and my brother some L-6 steel when I asked him about the O-1 on his shelf!
But he is famous for generosity whit infomation and kindness, bless his heart.
I would advise you just jump in because theree are so many ways of doing everything and yet if you like exploration it is a great medium for that too! Most of all have fun and that means be safe! Lastly don't get impatient for big nice equipment, Little at your local Sears is anything you'll want 2 weeks later, except maybe a drill press.
 
A lot, but not all of the questions we see on this forum are basic/beginning knifemaking questions in nature. We, the members of this forum, are very fortunate indeed to have such profficient makers/smiths/artisans that frequent this site. These folks are a wealth of information. I suppose that due to this, no one wants to appear to ask a "stupid question". Some folks are intimidated by this. The old saying "the only stupid question is the one never asked" applies here.

There are numerous sources available on and off the internet that provides a world of information. As mentioned in a previous posting, the Blades 'N Stuff catalog is a wealth of information. Quite a bit of that information is available at http://www.knives.com/engnath.html

The catalog from K & G Supply has some basic knifemaking information.

On any forum, you will get varying opinions. A lot the times none are wrong, they may just be different ways to accomplish the same task or technique. In my very humble opinion, a beginner's forum would basically be redundant of this present forum.

CLWilkins
 
One thing I'm learning now and as I was making my first knife...

As a beginning knifemaker, one has to be very resourceful and creative. Without it, knifemaking wouldn't be as fun, as challenging, and as rewarding as it is. Without it, you may not have a knifemaker.

Start along the road and when you get to a spot you can quite get through, ask for directions. There are fabulous knifemaking books out there, and each one talks about things not in the others. It would be the same with the FAQ, IMHO. There are so namy things I wish I could just learn from the other makers, little tricks on how to get the plunge cut symetrical, the flats flat, the lines crisp, but there are so many things that can't be put into words.

As far as the things that can be put into words, like type of belts, type of machinery, hand tools...I keep my eyes and ears peeled to catch little phrases that knifemakers make, little "givens" that don't seem so given. For instance, I've gathered that the Burr King grinder is the king for knifemakers, that is, unless you build your own. I've learned form words and experience that Nicholson are the only files to buy, don't settle for the cheap ones.

The road to knifemaking is more than a training, or a learning experience, I find it to be an adventure. Including hunting dowwn stuff, even though it may be outdated. Jump in and hang on. It feels good when you figure something out, find it in the archives, finish a knife with your own two hands and your own brain. That's something no one can take from you. And no one can give you.

Spencer

[This message has been edited by Spencer Stewart (edited 17 July 1999).]
 
I think this and excellent idea. Especially since the search function seems to be gone for quite awhile and it has been a causaulty in the past. Plus an FAQ would be better organized.


Regards,

Tom Carey
 
Spencer, point well taken. I know that the FAQ will not answer all questions, just some of the most frequently asked when one is beginning. Wouldn't it be great if in the hand tools section for the FAQ that we made the statement about files that you mentioned. This is exactly the material I want in the FAQ. Now, do you mind if I plagiarize your post...it would make one heckava disclaimer for the FAQ!
wink.gif


jj

[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 17 July 1999).]
 
Aw shucks, Don't know that I've ever been plaigerized before...I'm-I'm- well, I guess I'm honored!
smile.gif


BTW, just so I'm not seen as one who's plaigerizing, the list of hand tools I sent to Ryan were adopted from loveless and Barney "How to Make Knives".

ABTW (Another BTW), I'm glad your interested in making knives Jeff. Words can't express what happens inside when you make something from nothing!

Spencer

The difference between plaigerism and research is a footnote.



[This message has been edited by Spencer Stewart (edited 17 July 1999).]
 
Reading Spencer's post I realize that I may have committed a diservice to other readers in suggesting that Nicholson files are the only ones to buy. I wished only to suggest that they are the ones that I prefer to use because of the quality and availability. There probably are other makes of equal quality, I just haven't encountered them.

This is one of the possible problems with compiling a beginner's FAQ we could possibly do harm to an honest supplier who isn't mentioned in a posting. Every attempt should be made to be as fair as possible to all suppliers.

As for grinders my next purchase will be a Bee grinder with variable speed, not a Bader.
But that is only my personal preferance and is probably not the best for everybody else.
Up to now I have been grinding on a 7 1/2HP industrial grinder, an absolute monster in more ways than one so any thing is an upgrade. Until I can afford a real knifemaking machine I will take the intermediate step and build one of my own.

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 
Fair enough George, good words.

I quick thumbing of my handy dandy MSC industrial supply catalog only lists two other files by brand name, all the rest are identified as "import shop grade", or "import production grade."

The other two brand names aside fromm Nicholson are Grobet and Simonds.

Grobet looks to be a US company which makes Swiss pattern files. Pretty high priced. Never have used 'em, but I'm not too experienced.

Simonds does not specify its origin. they make specialty files called "Black Maxi-Sharp" files. Never used them either.

I'll have to throw a couple in my next order and see what they're worth.

Until then, has anyone tried these other brands?

Spencer

Hmmm, getting off topic, perhaps we should open another thread on files? Perhaps make it one of those FAQ posts?
smile.gif
 
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