How do you start?

T

TheUSMC2017

Joined
Nov 24, 2010
Messages
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So I've been collecting since I was 13, and from what I've seen, knife-making is really popular among collectors. I'd like to start making my own knives since the type of knife I like generally run about $200+. How should I start making a hunting knife?
 
I started with a few basic tools (drill press, 1x30 grinder, etc.) and put kit knives together. Kit knives allow you to learn the basics of finishing and if you start with a blade of good quality you have a good knife. It also lets you decide if you enjoy it enough to start making your own blades. Also you can never read too many books, watch too many videos, or read too many threads here. I have scanned this forum and read threads all the way back to the start. If you have a maker in your neck of the woods you could ask if he would take you as a student. You never know until you ask. The only other thing I will say is GO FOR IT!!
 
TheUSMC2017 said:
So I've been collecting since I was 13, and from what I've seen, knife-making is really popular among collectors. I'd like to start making my own knives since the type of knife I like generally run about $200+. How should I start making a hunting knife?
Click to expand...

Have you seen this ?

The Standard Reply to Newbies v9

The answer to a 13 year old student is different than to a 40 year old engineer.
We may recommend a local supplier, or you may have a helpful neighbour; but that depends on where you are.
Fill out your profile with your location (Country and State at least), age, education, employment.

Look at the threads stickied at the top; many are expired, but not all.

The basic process in the simplest terms

Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives-Printable PDF
Absolute Cheapskate Way to Start Making Knives-Website

Detailed instructions by Stacy E.Apelt.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694673


Books

A list of books and videos on the KnifeDogs Forum
http://www.knifedogs.com/showthread.php?t=5285

BladeForums - E-books or Google books
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203

I like:
David Boye-Step by Step Knifemaking
Tim McCreight-Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects from a Master Craftsman
These are clear, well organized, widely available and inexpensive too.

Knife Design:
On the Google books thread, you can find
Lloyd Harding drawings
and
the Loveless book with large variety of proven classic styles.
Google books thread


Forging Books:
Lorelei Sims-The Backyard Blacksmith
An excellent modern book with colour photos for forging in general - no knifemaking.

Jim Hrisoulas- has 3 books on forging knives. Check for the cheaper paperback editions.
The Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection
The Pattern-Welded Blade: Artistry in Iron
The Master Bladesmith: Advanced Studies in Steel

Machine Shop Basics -Books:
Elementary Machine Shop Practice

http://ia311316.us.archive.org/2/items/machineshoptool01dervgoog/machineshoptool01dervgoog.pdf


The $50 knife Shop
It confused me for a long time.
Forging is NOT necessary; you can just file and grind to create a knife (stock removal)

The goop quench is total Bull, commercial quench oils are available, even grocery store canola oil works much better.

Junkyard steels require skill and experience to identify the steel and heat treat it properly.
You can buy proper steel like 1084 very cheaply.

I like cable damascus, but that is an advanced project that has no place in a beginners book.

The home built grinders are the best thing about this book, but there is now a huge amount of info for 2x72” belt grinders on the web, including free plans.

Videos

Heat Treating Basics Video-downloadable
http://www.archive.org/download/gov.ntis.ava08799vnb1/ava08799vnb1_512kb.mp4

Many specific how to knifemaking videos are available, some are better than others.

The best overall Knifemaking video I have seen is
“Steve Johnson-Making a Sub-Hilt Fighter”

The best video on leather sheath making I have seen is
“Custom Knife Sheaths -Chuck Burrows - Wild Rose”
-(Paul Long has 2 new videos, his sheath work is fantastic. I hope the videos are too)

You can see a list of videos and reviews at this rental company; some are worth buying, some renting…
They are slow to get new titles and wait times are measured in months,
http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking

Green Pete's Free Video
Making a Mora bushcraft knife, stock removal, hand tools, neo tribal / unplugged heat treat.
"Green Pete" posted it free using torrent files.

Greenpete Knifemaking Basics-on TPB
You can also find it on YouTube broken into 4 parts.


Steel
The “welding steel” at Home Depot / Lowes… is useless for knives.
If you send out for heat treating, you can use A2, CM154, ATS34, s30v, 440C, plus many others.

If you heat treat yourself, find some 1070, 1080, 1084,
1084 FG sold by Aldo Bruno is formulated just for knifemaking.

You can find a list of suppliers here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=699736

Aldo is highly rated.
http://njsteelbaron.com/


Heat Treating
You can send blades out for heat treating at $10 or $15 per blade for perfect results, and avoid buying the equipment.

This PDF brochure gives a good overview
http://www.buckknives.com/resources/pdf/Paul_Bos_Brochure.pdf

http://www.petersheattreat.com/
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/about_us.php
http://www.knifemaker.ca/ (Canadian)


Grinder / Tools

Hand Tools
You can do it all by hand with files and abrasive cloth like the Green Pete video.

Photo of a nice bevel filing jig .
http://www.flemingknives.com/imagesPrime/FileStation/KPicB007.jpg

Entry Level Grinders
Many makers start with the Sears Craftsman 2x42 belt grinder.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921513000P?prdNo=3

Commercial Production 2 x 72” Belt Grinders
http://www.prometheanknives.com/shop-techniques-3/grinders

Mapp arm – Grinder Toolrest
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466024


DIY 2 x 72” Belt Grinders

KMG Clone
Free Plans
http://www.dfoggknives.com/PDF/GrinderPlans.pdf

NWG No Weld Grinder
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/plans-for-the-no-weld-grinder-sander-nearly-50-pages-p-723.html

EERF Grinder (EERF =“Free” backwards)
Free plans
http://wilmontgrinders.com/EERFGrinder.aspx
http://blindhogg.com/blueprints.html

Buy the kit
http://polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html
 
Read the first sticky at the top,twice.Then if you have more questions bring them on.
Welcome to the addiction.
Stan
 
SBuzek said:
Read the first sticky at the top,twice.Then if you have more questions bring them on.
Welcome to the addiction.
Stan
Click to expand...

I don't have a press or anything more then some hammers, screwdrivers, and grinder, can I do anything with basic tools like that?
 
Thats kinda up to you... if it were me, Id go get some paint sticks and practice making knives outa them first. :D :thumbup:

Jason
 
1. START by thinking about what qualities you expect in a hunting knife. What functions do you expect it to perform? What size and shape of blade and handle will best let you perform those tasks?

2. Look at pictures, LOTS of pictures of knives to see how others have approached the same dilemma you’re facing.

3. Draw about a million different designs based on the decisions made above. Make templates out of cardboard, wood, or plastic to see if it looks right and feel right.

4. Once you’re satisfied with the design then make your knife.


There. That wasn’t so tough was it?

Maybe step 4 could use a little “fleshing out”, but you asked how to START to make a hunting knife.

Good luck. (You'll need it if you use MY help) ;-)

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
Last edited:
I dabbled a bit with Fire, Hammer, and Anvil about a decade ago before I had to put it aside for other things (like college). Now that I've got some free time I got back into knife making via Stock Removal. Made myself a decent heat-treating forge, bought a half-decent grinder from Harbor Freight, a half-dozen files, and a large stack of sandpaper of assorted grits.

It's pretty simple to make a knife but it's the amount of patience required that sets apart a good bladesmith from a great bladesmith. Are you prepared to put in over +40 hours for a decent knife? Can you handle sanding a peice of metal for hours on end with only a radio to help you keep a groove going? Do you have the fortitude to put 10hrs into something only to decide you don't like the way it came out and started from scratch? If you can can do any of the above and not burn out, then knife-making is deffinitely something you can do.

You don't need a lot of tools - use files and sandpaper in the beginning. Send the blades out for heat-treating (which I think is the most difficult part). Once you understand how metal moves under the bite of a file and paper then move on to something else - like heat-treating (where you'll learn to build a forge).

(My $0.02)
 
"The Count" has posted the standard reply to newbies, but let me elaborate.

Filling out your profile may well let a maker know that you live in his area. He may then invite you and a parent over to help you get started. This may often include the steel and handle material needed to make the knife.
It also lets others know where you are, and they may give you info on local suppliers, hammer-in's, and other events.

Finding a local maker is the fastest way to get going.

The sticky on making a knife covers the process in detail.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694673
There are many other great tutorials on making a knife with hand tools,too. A set of three files and a stack of wet-or-Dry paper is all the tools you really need. The holes in the tang can be drilled with any type of hand drill, or on a friends/neighbors/local shops drill press.

Fix a place in the garage to work on the knife, or even a picnic table out back. Your room is not the right place,BTW ( unless you really want to make your Mom mad). I have even seen an old "yard sale" school desk modified and used as a knife bench ( you might even get a damaged one free if you ask at school). Wherever you decide, make a bolted/screwed/clamped "arm" of a 2X4 to clamp the blade to. This arm only needs to stick out about 6-8". A couple of cheap HF C-clamps will hold the blade down on the arm, or you can screw/bolt it down through the tang holes. Get a sturdy box or an old tool box, to put the supplies and knife blank in when not working on it. Keeping everything neat and being able to find things not only makes it easier, but shows the right attitude. Your attitude in how you do this project may heavily affect your parents participation in the (never ending) quest for knife making tools. A simple drill press or a belt sander might make a great Birthday present if they think you are ready for one and will - 1)Take care of it; 2) Use it; 3) Use it safely. (I started getting tools as presents when I was about 9, and still have many of those same tools today - 50 years later).
 
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