How do I start?

L

Leo3an

Joined
Dec 21, 2017
Messages
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ok, i have been going theough posts and videos of knife making.

I’m a newb. I dont really know metallergy or machinary. What would you recommend me to do, to start learning how to make knives most efficiently & inexpensively?

How does a knife maker start making knives?? Did they grow up watching it? Learned from a class? Just self taught how to use a CNC machine?

Thanks
 
This is sort of the standard answer of checking the sticky:
Sticky Threads - All The Good Info You Want In One Place

Making a good knife isn't necessarily about making a knife "efficiently & inexpensively". Maybe that's important for making more money when selling your knife, but I don't know enough about that to say for sure, LOL.

If you want to start making knives, an easy introduction is to attend a knifemaking class. Lots of places have a one or two day class where you make a fixed blade knife. Alternatively, you can scour the info from the sticky and teach yourself.

There are lot of videos, but a lot of them also do not tell you the reasoning behind what they're doing. If you don't learn the principles behind something, that can hinder your development as a maker.

It's not rocket science though, you don't need to know calculus and all that. It's a lot of fun and addictive if you get the itch. Good luck!
 
Find out if there are any local makers that offer a weekend knife making classes in your area. Knowing everything involved with making a knife will give you an understanding of the business.
Personally, I’d rather buy one than make one.
 
I find answering who, what, when, where, and why generally puts me on the right path. It may seem trivial but going through the process of answering these questions will determine the design and quality of the work required for the final product. It will also help with what tools are required.

Why is always first and will be asked throughout the process.

That leads to the design stage. During the design stage ask the "what" question. What will this be used for, fileting fish or chopping wood. What are the design characteristics specific to the task. Draw it out with whatever tools your comfortable using be it pencil and paper or CAD.

Who will be wielding this tool? Male, female big hands or small, perfectionist, pragmatist, or utilitarian. Please keep in mind this is all high level q & a before ever wielding a hammer or putting steel to grinder or file. Go back and tweak your design.

After the design stage, what tools are required to achieve the vision? This then leads to the "where", which is obvious, and "how" which leads to technique. Go back and tweak your design to again fit these new parameters.

After all those questions are answered and the tools are in place, your ready to research the art of the techniques required to fulfill the vision. Go back and tweak your design again. You now have a plan. Execute it, poorly at first, but better over time.

Just my 2c on where to start but its the process I went through.
 
just jump in and make one with hand tools only
Then go from there
 
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I have taught myself with help from these great guys on BF and my friend Joseph Becker. I made my second knife at his shop with a grizzly grinder and a week after got my own. He was great when I made the knife because he pretty much just opened the door and said begin and then went on his own business and was just there if I couldn't figure something out. I think making a knife to your instincts and then afterwards reviewing with a knifemaker to see what you did wrong/right/dangerously/quickly/slowly is extremely educating.

To me (maybe just defending my low budget :)) but a CNC machine does not have a place in making custom handmade knives. It can be very helpful for guys making many knives though. Either cut your blank out with an angle grinder, or even better, forge to shape.
 
Hey Leo,
Probably the most effective and efficient way of learning is to take a class, or find a local maker who can help you out.
probably the least efficient way is how most of us started, bumbling around in the garage with a file and a hacksaw and a piece of steel we picked up on the side of the road or at a construction site or where ever.

Check out the stickies that folks have mentioned. There is a step by step tutorial by Stacy that will walk you through making a knife with hand tools. Thats probably the next best way to go at it, at least in my opinion.
good luck and welcome to the addiction!
 
First thing to do is fill out your profile. Knowing where you live will allow people to suggest learning places and maybe offer a shop visit and help learning. Knowing your hobbes, occupation, and something about you helps with making online instruction more personal.

Start simple. Too many folks rush out and buy high end steel, burl wood, expensive power tools, etc. and haven't even though the process through. Read the stickys, especially the How to Make a Knife tutorial.

Make a plan on how you will build your first knife. The first thing to do is decide what type knife you want. Decide on a steel. Make a drawing. Post it here is Shop talk, and get some feedback and suggestions.
You may want to buy a pre-made knife blade from a supplier and add the handle for a first project.
You may want to buy a pre-cut blank and do all the bevel filing and sanding, then add the handle.
You may get a bar of steel and go from scratch, cutting out your shape and filing/grinding from there.

Start with a couple files, a bar of steel, a stack of sandpaper, lots of elbow grease .... and plenty of time. Don't try to do the whole blade in a couple hours. If you do, I guarantee it will look like a two-hour knife.

Think about Heat Treatment ( HT). In the beginning, it is usually best to have someone else do it. That is where getting in contact with a nearby maker comes in handy. Your location in your profile may get someone to offer to do the HT.
 
A couple more good Youtubers are Aaron Gough for his file jig, Ekim knives for good all around advice and Nick Wheeler for all things perfect.
 
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