I literally do not know where to begin.

P

PPRMSTR

Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
4
I've read what has to be hundreds of "Where to start" threads and topics on handfuls of different forums blade and blacksmithing alike.

None of them tell you where to start.

Building a forge and scavenging an anvil isn't a start, I don't know anything about heating metal to their proper temperatures, the properties of different metals, basic welding, proper tools, safety etc.

I haven't been able to find this information anywhere.

I live in Seattle Washington, and have been looking into smithing for quite awhile making little progress because I'm not familiar with anything that is discussed on any of the forums from slang, to techniques to properties.

Are there classes/seminars or something one has to attend? I'm already aware that "apprenticeships" don't really exist due to costing the smith money and time.

I could get an "industrial welding" class at a local community college but other then that I'm at a loss.

Help!

Thank you in advance.
 
There's a thread hidden up at the top of the page on where newbies can find one or two tricks.
 
"I haven't been able to find this information anywhere."

I've already looked there.

The closest thing to help said..

1. Assemble materials...
2. Clamp the blade down..
etc..

What tools?
What kind of clamp?
What should I be using as safety?
Where can I get these things?
How much do they cost?
How do I know when the metal is ready to be worked, after heating?
How does the above change between different metals?
etcetcetc

I don't mean to come off as a jerk or anything but I've been searching for these answers for months, and anytime I make a post on a forum people direct me to stickies with no information that is helpful to someone with NO knowledge about physically beginning smithing. I couldn't even tell you which screwdriver is a philips or which is a standard. Although I could guess, and would guess that the flat one is a standard. But I don't know that for sure. That is as far as my "tool" knowledge goes; guessing.


I've wanted to smith for a long time, and ever since I've begun to actually search for answers, and gotten none from what seems like a large community I'm just disappointed, my apologies if I come off as a rude.
 
there is a group in your area called the North West Blacksmith's Association
(NWBA) google them, call someone up, and go to it !! These groups usually have beginner classes as well as some one who teaches at their own shop.
You are where I was 15 years ago...learn to forge, then forge a knife !
good luck......Mike:thumbup:
 
Yeah I know about NWBA. Unfortunately they're "out in the sticks" and I commute by bicycle, like every good Seattle-ite should. :P

I'll look those books up Dewey, thanks.
 
Goddard's books are a good place to start. They cover basic metallurgy. Also there's a decent blacksmithing book by Weygers (sp?) that I read when I was starting out that I found helpful as far as fire management, tool use, and such.
 
I've not seen anyone else post this before, but I had zero experience with metal working or any other 'hands-on' craft or hobby. I bought $50 Knife Shop as my first step and found it as or more confusing than the sticky threads you mention. There's lots of good info in the book, but I found it hard to follow and understand without any previous experience.

What really helped me was getting connected with my local Artist Blacksmithing Association, so I encourage you to try to do that if at all possible. Now that I have some experience with those folks under my belt, the info in Goddard's book now makes sense to me.

Good luck!
 
I would suggest learning about what is going on inside the steel from the folks who work inside the steel, and bladesmithing from the bladesmiths that stand out as the best at the style you wish to make. Thus the best book for understanding steel without becoming overwhelmed with technical jargon is "Metallurgy Fundamentals" by Daniel A. Brandt, ISBN 0870069225. I use it for many of the classes I teach and if you just stick to the ferrous metallurgy part it will put you years ahead in the game.

As for the tools, I would encourage you to reconsider that they may not be the beginning of your efforts. The quality of your work and the chances of your success are heavily dependent upon the quality of your tools. I know the desire to dive right in is overwhelming, but if I had it all to do over again I would get all of my tools in order, the first of which would be knowledge and then the forge and anvil hammers, grinder etc...
Then I would sit down and plan what I am going to do. It took me perhaps 15 years to learn that if I would just sit down and spend 5 minutes planning I could save years of making sloppy mistakes.

When it comes time to make one- 1. what kind of knife will it be? What task will it perform? Design it accordingly, but more importantly choose your steel accordingly. Equally as important in steel selection are once again your tools. 2. What steels can be properly worked with the tools you have?

Now put your knowledge from the books into use on the steel with your tools to create the design you have carefully planned. When done, test out the design and the process and adjust accordingly and make another one. If you are looking to do this for a living or a very serious hobby, get over any aversion you have to throwing one away and starting on the next. The best smihts I have seen can be judged on the size of their pile of scrapped blades (bigger is better) than by the number of blades they sell or display.
 
Hi PPRMSTR,

Welcome to the forums. I live in Marysville.

I agree that Wayne Goddards's $50 Knife Shop is the best book for the beginner. It tells you how to go about making your first knife with very limited tools.

Here is a link to a thread I recently posted that has links to Knife Making books in publication that you can search and read before buying the paper version.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203

I got most of my knife making books at half priced books in Everett. They usually have a few to pick from.

You are welcome to come up to my house in Marysville and spend the afternoon with me in the shop. I just finished with finals and will have a few weeks off, so the timing couldn't be better. Aside from a brief trip to Mexico next week, I'll be spending almost everyday from now till January 5th making knives. We should be able to get you started in the right direction. I have everything you'll need, but it would be helpful if you could bring a few files that you can use. I'm still a beginner, but I can show you what I know. I have a forge, so we can hammer out a blade for you that you can finish up at home.

E-mail me at my blade forums username at yahoo.com and I'll send you my phone number so we can set something up.

You can also see a couple of the blades I forged at my photo bucket page: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg316/bjalongi/

If you don't have a car, you can take the bus to about a block or two from my house.

Take care,
BJ
 
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My shop is also always open for visitors and even those who would like to spend a LONG day or two normal days putting a knife together. Although I do not forge or do stock removal I have a very complete shop and you can learn to grind, file, sand and polish metal as well as how to pein pins.........

I am retired so every day is a Saturday for me.
 
Welcome to blade forums!

In my opinion starting out with "I don’t know" is ideal. Many guys who start into bladesmithing have many preconceived notions that hinder their progress.
Probably the biggest one being "I do things my own way so it can’t be wrong".

For the most part I think you should follow Kevin Cashens advice.

I would like to add some advice of my own.

Learn to draw. Drawing is more about seeing than it is skill with paper and a pencil.

Take everything you read in the Custom knife world with a grain of salt.
Fortunately we are not bound by any universal standards. This means allot of freedom of expression and methods. It also means opinions are often passed as facts.

Finally stick around here there is allot of good info here. Just take your time and learn as much as you can.

Good luck and have fun!
 
There are lots of good "How to...." videos at SmartFlix that you can rent that I have found helpful. The best asset by far is local folks willing to help. Everyone I have met and spoken with in this community are very helpful to us NOOBs. Good luck!

Brad
 
I always recommend starting at the beginning... if you start any where else, you miss out a lot of good stuff. :D

... in other words,... (you see a lot of it but, in spite of what you may have heard), don't try to start off as an expert.

Don't believe every thing you read.

Don't spend a lot of money,... you might not be any good at it (or like it) any way.

No two people are exactly the same. We all find our own way through it... It mainly has to do with your own personal goals and interests, and what you hope to accomplish. You have to become your own guru. :)
 
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Kevin R. Cashen said:
The best smihts I have seen can be judged on the size of their pile of scrapped blades (bigger is better) than by the number of blades they sell or display.
Click to expand...

I always thought it was just the opposite. LOL :D

... love to see your pile though. :)

"Less is more."

(You are right though,... you have to learn (...and unlearn) from your mistakes.)
 
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I got the $50 book from the library just the other day, thought it was a pretty good read. A buddy of mine wants to get into blademaking pretty bad, I'll probably get him the book for christmas. It will be good for him if he starts with the basics.

I drive the same guy nuts, he's a definite 'I'd rather buy it than spend the time' kind. He'll spend $100 today because he doesn't want to wait until next week to spend $5.
Not only do I reverse engineer and fab for fun, but when he wants something I tell him not only can I build it, but I'll probably make the tools I need first. So building the forge etc. definitely appeals to me, and then I can start from square 1. I'll spend a week fab'ing instead of spending the $50 to pick it up today.
 
Google is your friend, or at least it was mine.

simple keywords are all it takes, such as "gas forge"

Anvilfire.com is a good starting place.

Building a forge and scrounging an anvil IS a start, as you can't very well start forging blades without either.

Read how one guy explains how to build a forge and when you think you know everything he tried to teach, read another guys page on how to build a forge, THEN, when you think you know everything about building a forge, read yet another guys page on how to build a forge and then when you have an idea of the forge you want to build, you can either build it or come here and post the idea so the experienced guys will (may) tell you if it's good or bad or what-have-you.

In the process of reading about the forge building process you will come across myriad links to pages that CAN teach you most of the rest that you should know.

If you have a bench grinder, maybe start by building a knife using stock removal, if you still want to build knifes and think you want to do it by forging, then look into that further.
 
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