How to become a knife maker? *long read*

Fiddleback said:
Stephen Fowler is over there. Give him a call.
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I have no idea who that is - can you PM contact info?

I do know David Farmer but apparently I dont see/talk to him often enough. When I last ran into him and asked if he would be interested in teaching me knife making - he told me he sold his entire shop the week before and no longer making knives. Shame .. David is cool dude and has a multitude of skills .. I'd love to sponge from his knowledge. :(
 
Not Sylvrfox. Sylvrfalcn.
 
bonafide said:
I have no idea who that is - can you PM contact info?

I do know David Farmer but apparently I dont see/talk to him often enough. When I last ran into him and asked if he would be interested in teaching me knife making - he told me he sold his entire shop the week before and no longer making knives. Shame .. David is cool dude and has a multitude of skills .. I'd love to sponge from his knowledge. :(
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Man, that is sad news. I didn't know David quit. I met him years ago when we were both getting started. Hope he's found better water.

Google Stephen. He has a website, and he is a good teacher. Don't let him talk you into forgery though. LOL.



Guys, in this thread by Sarge you see me ask my first little knife making question.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/370521-OT-Return-of-the-Po-Boy-Puukko

I was directed by PM to this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ject-quot-Po-Boy-Puukko-quot?highlight=Puukko

I know I was likely bothering the hell out of those folks at HI. Thread after thread. They really made me feel at home over there.
 
Andy,
My first class filled and has a waiting list. As it turns out, there are a lot of people interested in knifemaking. Once we get through this one, I will be able to make additional offerings. (I keep chuckling to myself over the class title "daggers for fun and profit" but I am a long way from doing it :-)

I will post links here if I do another one.

PB
 
Paul .. please keep me in the loop when you're offering another class. I'm very interested in learning as much as I can.

newsasquatch - there was a link given by fiddleback. The class is in Dunwoody, GA
 
Yes, Dunwoody, GA at the Spruill Arts Center.

We will figure out future classes after we get through this one.

I am finding out that it can be frustrating to learn to grind. It is like learning guitar or drawing or shooting tight groups. It is wrapping your mind around what has to happen and then getting your muscle memory trained. Keep in mind that I am teaching free-hand grinding like Andy uses, not grinding fixtures.
After spending an hour working with someone new to it, we have decided that we will do a practice blade of mild steel that is intended to be messed up before turning the students loose on the O1 Loveless-style blank. I have also decided to eliminate teaching tang tapering on the full tang blade, although I will demo it.
I have a bad feeling these students are coming to me thirsty for knowledge and I am going to point a fire hose at them, but I am confident they will get a good drink :-)

Newsasquatch, Where in California are you? My nephew is in Arcata and is getting a shop pulled together right now.

Also, if you want to make a blade with few tools, you can get some 1/8" O1, the biggest bastard file Ace hardware has, a file card (cleaning brush) and a C clamp and then learn to draw file. I did it that way back when I was starting out with nothing as a high school kid in the early 80s. You won't be real productive, but you can make knives that way. If you want to see the extreme limit of grinding with a file, do a google Image search on "wolfgang Loerchner Knives". Before you get too excited though, understand that Wolfe is the Da Vinci of the file... no one else is even close....except his daughter.
 
I just made a bushcrafting type knife using a jig, some 3/16th 01 - and some files. I have learned a TON about how knives are made just by this foray into the art. I have also gained a lot of respect for those that make it look effortless.

I have been filming it - and will put up my video when I get done.

I hope Andy is cool with me making a knife like one of his patterns (it looks a lot like an Arete without a bulls-eye tube or other Fiddleback design trademarks of course).

Sheesh - considering the amount of filing I just did - and the workout it was - I am not planning to mass produce them any time soon. ;)

I would have to have some of his goons at my door step to break my knees.

TF
 
Andrew, all of the above advise is great. One thing that helped me a ton was finding someone locally that would let me step in his shop and try things out. That way I didn't spend a fortune in tools just to find out I wasn't going to be any good at it. Fortunately he was a friend for many years and he mentored me as a new knife maker.

I finished my first knife 2 years ago and after doing it I felt that I could do more and get better. Andy has been a huge influence on my work along with others I have had the privilege to meet. Here is a pic of the last knife I made. If I can do it, any one can.

 
[QUOTE=
I finished my first knife 2 years ago and after doing it I felt that I could do more and get better. Andy has been a huge influence on my work along with others I have had the privilege to meet. Here is a pic of the last knife I made. If I can do it, any one can.

Damn! 2 years. Seriously? Andy showed me the pocket knife of yours that he has....you have been doing this for 2 years????
(I think I am going to go hurl and contemplate the shortcomings in my work!)
 
Yes, 2 years. In April of 2012 I made my first slipjoint and that was the beginning of the end.

 
@paul, I live in West covina. I recently looked up knifemaking in my area and there are a couple of schools that teach it. They arent very expensive either. It costs $45 for insurance for a year. I have to pay $25 for a years membership to the museum where they teach at, and $10 dollars per session. Although they require that before learning how to make knives i have to learn how to forge metal first. I dont mind though, i like to have fundamentals. This should be fun.
 
@Talfuchre, I look forward to the video.

@Jared, yeah I'm going to be taught in a shop since i live in an apt. Btw, im a big fan of your knives and i subscribe to your email. Love your folders.
 
Yes, by all means take the classes! You will get to use the tools and you will be shown simple things that will save you endless hours of toil. You will also have access to the tools you will need, so I expect your problems are solved!

Jared, I am still shaking my head over that sweet folder. I am curious about your nail nicks. This is generally where new slip joint makers mess up a really nice piece by using a cutoff wheel in a dremel tool or something. I assume you are using a mill, and my guess is on the crescent nick you used a fly cutter. What did you use for the long straight nick, a circular jewelers saw and arbor?
 
Thanks Paul. On the nail nicks you are right on. I use a fly cutter with a bit I have ground and chuck it in my mill. Lots of little tricks to get it right but I feel pretty confident in doing them now.

For the long pull I use a 3/64" slitting saw with an r8 collet that also fits in my mill. They are pretty much a no brainer to do. It would be hard to mess them up.

Paul Brach said:
Yes, by all means take the classes! You will get to use the tools and you will be shown simple things that will save you endless hours of toil. You will also have access to the tools you will need, so I expect your problems are solved!

Jared, I am still shaking my head over that sweet folder. I am curious about your nail nicks. This is generally where new slip joint makers mess up a really nice piece by using a cutoff wheel in a dremel tool or something. I assume you are using a mill, and my guess is on the crescent nick you used a fly cutter. What did you use for the long straight nick, a circular jewelers saw and arbor?
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Very sweet! I just got a decent mill, so I will have to try one. The only folders I have done so far have been liner locks.
 
Paul, the trick is running the mill as slow as you can and don't use cutting fluid. Do a test piece and feel free to contact me if you have troubles.
 
Jared - that folder of yours is just classic. I love the bevels in the butt of the handle.

I think I am saying I like your butt.

;)

TF
 
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