how long does it take

2

22h2

Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
159
Hello everyone, I was wondering to all the slip joint makers how long does it take for you to complete a typical knife from start to finish, I have made slip joints of and on for a few years and each one is different as far as time required, I probable have 40 hrs (strictly as guess), I just work on them when time allows. I was wondering how long it takes the pros to complete a knife.

thanks
 
For efficiency It’s best to do them in batches. Any operation, the first one takes “x” amount of time. The second one takes 1/2 as long and each one thereafter takes 1/4 as long.

And as always the details matter. How complex are the liners , scales and pivot fittings? etc etc

When I took a class on a slipjoint, we did it in less than two full days.

I stopped making them but I’ll get back into it eventually. They take from 2-4 days depending on the complexity and batch size.

I didn’t do the engraving on these two. But these are integral bolsters liners combo with radius and forged blades. These take awhile.


QlGrbzf.jpg
 
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HSC: Those are NICE looking slipjoints. How is the pivot handled with the screw? It looks good. Your curved bolster/scale joint looks good - I've been wanting to try a radius joint that is dovetailed also, but haven't had the nerve to try..... yet. Good job.

To the OP's question of how long - I don't really like to think of how many hours I put into a slipjoint. For sure more than a chef knife :)
 
You have to be far more specific for an accurate answer
 
HSC /// said:
...When I took a class on a slipjoint, we did it in less than two full days...
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Did that include heat treating time? Heat treating alone takes me most of a day with two tempering cycles.

I am certainly not the "pro" you are looking for answers from, but my early slipjoints after the first one or two took me about 12-15 hours (not including heat treat sit around time) by working in the evenings after kids went to bed and during kid's naps on weekends. Now that I have gotten better, they take significantly longer (double-ish?) because I spend more time on the bevel grinding and finishing. I have never devoted a full couple days to making one to see how fast I could go with contiguous effort. It sounds like fun though!
 
Sean Yaw said:
Did that include heat treating time? Heat treating alone takes me most of a day with two tempering cycles.

I am certainly not the "pro" you are looking for answers from, but my early slipjoints after the first one or two took me about 12-15 hours (not including heat treat sit around time) by working in the evenings after kids went to bed and during kid's naps on weekends. Now that I have gotten better, they take significantly longer (double-ish?) because I spend more time on the bevel grinding and finishing. I have never devoted a full couple days to making one to see how fast I could go with contiguous effort. It sounds like fun though!
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Come to think of it, I also have mandatory 24 waits while epoxy cures. All these waits suite the intermittent time periods I have to work, but I don't think I could make one in a single 48 hour period using my normal processes.
 
thanks everyone for the replies, I work part time making knives as a hobby, and I was curious if the amount of time I spend on a knife is average or below., I know it was a vague question and the more embellishment you do requires more time, HSC where did you take a class at? I have learned everything via videos and trial and error. I really enjoy knife making and do everything in my shop including heat treat,
 
Sean Yaw said:
Did that include heat treating time? Heat treating alone takes me most of a day with two tempering cycles.

I am certainly not the "pro" you are looking for answers from, but my early slipjoints after the first one or two took me about 12-15 hours (not including heat treat sit around time) by working in the evenings after kids went to bed and during kid's naps on weekends. Now that I have gotten better, they take significantly longer (double-ish?) because I spend more time on the bevel grinding and finishing. I have never devoted a full couple days to making one to see how fast I could go with contiguous effort. It sounds like fun though!
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Yes. You can flash temper as needed. Which just takes a few minutes
 
22h2 said:
thanks everyone for the replies, I work part time making knives as a hobby, and I was curious if the amount of time I spend on a knife is average or below., I know it was a vague question and the more embellishment you do requires more time, HSC where did you take a class at? I have learned everything via videos and trial and error. I really enjoy knife making and do everything in my shop including heat treat,
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Mike Vagnino ABS MS in Visalia CA
 
Ken H> said:
HSC: Those are NICE looking slipjoints. How is the pivot handled with the screw? It looks good. Your curved bolster/scale joint looks good - I've been wanting to try a radius joint that is dovetailed also, but haven't had the nerve to try..... yet. Good job.

To the OP's question of how long - I don't really like to think of how many hours I put into a slipjoint. For sure more than a chef knife :)
Click to expand...
The pivot is a precision barrel bushing that’s internally threaded.
 
thanks HSC, that is a little far for me I'm in Ky lol,

can someone give an example/explanation of flash temper?

thanks
 
22h2 said:
thanks HSC, that is a little far for me I'm in Ky lol,

can someone give an example/explanation of flash temper?

thanks
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It’s a torch temper or tempering on coals. Just a quick way to temper a blade, it can take a decent amount of practice to get right or good at it. Typically it involves either watching the color of the steel turn to a specific color like light straw or medium brown or slight purple depending on desired hardness by heating with a torch or doing the same process with a torch but using tempstiks to see when the entire blades reached an even temperature based off the tempstiks melting
 
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