I want to get started in knifemaking. How?

M

Moose308

Joined
Jul 24, 2000
Messages
6
Hi. I think I have recently been infected with a knifemaking bug. I have always had a penchant for knives, however making them never occured to me. When a chap walked into the local gun store with a new custom bowie he had made for him, well, I got aroused. I checked out several websites and have seen oodles of pictures of stunningly beautiful knives. I want to make some myself. And that is where my question comes in. Where do I start.

Visiting the local bookstore, I could only find "The Wonder of Knifemaking" by Goddard. I walked out with it, as well as putting "How to Make a Knife" by Barney on order. I suspect that second book should give me a good start. "Wonder" was an acceptable book, but seemed to take for granted that you already knew a fair bit about knifemaking, not to mention meandering here and there and skipping many details I would think would be important to point out.

Are there and GOOD websites which can point me (a total metalworking newbie) in a surefire knifemaking path. I am looking to answer questions like "forging vs. stock-removal, should I worry about it?", "what equipment will I _need_?", "what equipment will I _want_?", "How do I start out making knives, and not get frustrated too quickly."

I do not have lots of money to dump into this right now, so the less I need to buy off the bat the better. Currently I have a small workshop (filled with much reloading gear for my guns). Things I do have include a 6" grinder (2 wheel, 3750 rpm), a Delta 8" drill press, a 14" bandsaw (which I would have to buy a metal blade for, right?), power drills, dremel tools, and other nik naks. Since I live in a residential neighbourhood, I suspect getting a forge would not be available since I work in an enclosed garage. The toaster oven tempering oven Goddard talks about should be an easy aquisition. But how would I go about heating up metals for quenching? A gas forge will be too much for indoors, won't it?

As you can see, I have many questions, and not a lot of info (yet). Please help if you know where I can seek this knowledge.


 
you have come to the right place....the Loveless/Barney book is one of the best going...I read it about 10 times before I started making knives......one of the very best things you can do when starting out is look at a lot of custom knives...It is an education in itself...then you can start asking Tim Herman how to make folders...
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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
If you have questions just ask somebody here will know the answer...As for the gas forgejust leave the shop doors open and put in a fan (floor model will work fine)and do the heat treating as the last thing for the day if it heats the shop up to much.I started wiyh my forge in a old school bus and it wasnt to bad...Good luck on your new journey and I hope you enjoy making knives as much as I do......Bruce
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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society
 
First off, get a second job to support your knife habit.
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Look over the archives here, and for forges check out www.keenjunk.com and www.anvilfire.com there is a link to Ron reil's forge page. And also check out the www.neotibalmetalsmiths.com there is some excellent work there by new guys using a propane torch (the kind you get at a hardware store) and a bean can.
With the equipmewnt you have, you should be able to get started pretty easily.

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Sola Fide

[This message has been edited by mikeS (edited 07-25-2000).]
 
I started to research this stuff about a year or so ago. I just started actually making knives about 3mths ago. I will pass on some of the mistakes I have made so far and maybe it will help
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Be PATIENT don't buy equipment untill you actually need it. I kept buying stuff just because I thought I needed it. Wrong
Turns out alot of the stuff I got could have waited untill I had been making knives for a few years.
Most of that came because I lacked experience in the actual process of making a knife. Wait untill after you go thru each of the steps a few times then INVEST in the equipment you need to start. Complete a few knives first. You will rapidly find that variable speed DC motors and quality tools will make your life much easier!!!
Had I listened to that advice about six months ago I would now have all the right equipment and have money left over to buy supplies to boot.
Good luck to you.
Bob Hankins
 
AWWW!
Ya beat me to the Engnath site!
Bob E. got more guys(me included) started making blades with that "little book of secrets" than anybody.

And ASK QUESTIONS! I never met a knifemaker that wouldn't help out another, and there's many ways to skin the proverbial cat!
Harry Jensen
 
Moose308,

These forums (or is it fora) are a great place for information! More than we can even comprehend, I think. If you're interested in making, this particular forum is great. Just look at the people who contribute and what they have to say.

Good luck!
 
You may also want to try out a knife kit available from any of the knife suppy stores such as Jantz, Koval, Sheffield, Texax Knifemakers, etc. The blade comes to you tempered. All you have to do is finish the handle. Good Luck!!

Hugh

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President of Knifemakers Anonymous - "The sickness can be cured!" Call 1-800-cutfingers
 
...or you can just do what I did - buy a bunch of bar stock (enough for about 10 blades) and just start grinding. After you've completely wrecked every last scrap of steel that you had, you'll know what questions to ask and things will start to fall into place.
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Only by making mistakes will you really learn how to do it. Books are a great help, but knifemaking skills need to be acquired (not learned) through experience. That said, make sure you have a lot of patience! If you're like me, it'll be quite some time before you've ground a blade that you're actually proud of.

 
I agree with wolfie here, Being im a novice. JUst do it with what ya have and make the mistakes. it helps ya know just what to ask when help is needed. It helps if ya live near another knife maker too. Nothing like a day of demos and some one to show ya what U did wrong.

still trial by error is the best. Good luck in your new hobby
 
your gonna need a belt sander for grinding bevels, don't use a bench grinder with abrasive wheels, it heats steel up to quick, and burns it. belt sanders have many more uses. i have a homebuilt 1.5hp variable speed, 3"x132" belt sander, but one that big is not nessecary for the begginer. if you have around $1000 you could buy a wilton 2"x72" belt sander, these are very popular among knifemakers. most belt sanders will work though, i started on a $100 1"x30" belt sander, single speed. it's
the bandsaw you spoke of will not be good if you just put a metal blade on it. metal bandsaws run at a speed of 100-200fpm, most woodworking bandsaws run at a speed of 2000fpm or more. unless youcan slow down your bandsaw to 100-200fpm, i wouldn't uise it. you can purcase a metal bandsaw for around $200, the other members should be able to suggest a good one.
these are the tools you will need to start through the stock removal method, which is the method i use. you can make a knife with a file set, and a hacksaw but it's tough to do.
finishing your blade will only require sandpaper and a small sanding block, i made one from black walnut. after grindind, and sanding on the belt sander up to 400grt. i start with 320grt sandpaper, but if you have some uneveness, you can start with 150grt, which should make getting dips out easier. sand lenghtwise on the blade first, looking at a low light to see if their are any scratches in the blade. after the first grit move up through 400grt, 600grt, and 1000grt. change the direction in which your sanding each time you change grit size, so you can see the scratches.
drill holes through the tang for pins with your drill press, i use split point cobalt drill bits. i over size 1/32" over the pin size i'm using, you may think that is excessivem 1/64" oversize should work also.
after you drill the holes your blade is ready for heat treatment.
if you don't won't to do your own heat treatment, you can send it to heat treaters, paul bos does heat treating for knives, and many say he is the best.
 
Moose, email me with any questions. I just started, so i know what it is like. Belt sander 1X30 for $60 at harborfreight.com. Get a bunch of files and good, bimetal high speed steel hacksaw blades for blanking the blades out. A good, sturdy vise is also good to have. Like I said, email me with any questions and I'll try to help you out! Fellow Newbies Unite!!!! Oh yeah, get some jantz catalogs, Texas knifermakers supply, Koval knives, etc. They have steel, belts and everything else. For handle material, get a good respirator and micarta. Great stuff, easy to work and tough. just kinda smelly. Kits are a good way to start out doing handles and seeing how a blade should look. I did 3 kits and then went on to do my own blades. A fun hobby you will enjoy!

[This message has been edited by Taz (edited 07-25-2000).]
 
Do ya' really blast moose with a .308?
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Just kidding
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I made the leap about six months ago and have collected a sizable amount of steel dust in my shop without realizing a 'finished' blade. I have lots of 'almosts' and some 'just abouts' but no winners yet. I bought what I thought I needed and realized after I burned through the bank account that what I needed most was (in order of their importance)1.Patience 2. a simple set of files (sharp and in good shape) 3. a device for keeping your work secure (vise) 4.Patience 5. an idea of want you want to do (style shape etc but keep it simple). 6.a stock of scrap steel of approximately the same dimensions as the style you want to make.

Make some mock ups. Find out what it's like to file and polish steel. Learn to make mistakes and benefit from them. Use frustration as a motivator not a detractor from your goal. Don't be afraid to ask questions even if they seem petty or stupid (some of the folks on these forums may slag you but have patience and they'll go away
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Everyone that has started making knives has started in about the same place that you are in right now but without the benefit of the expertise that exists on this page and others. Be open to knew ideas and try the ones that pertain to you and your situation (Crap!! I'm starting to sound like the Desiderata of the knife making world
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There is a Canadian Page on the blade forums that seem to have a good source of info pertaining to the unique problems encountered by us Canuks.

My company name is Serenity Blades and it's all in the name...the only thing that matters when I'm working in the shop is what is in the shop. Nothing else matters or has any business being in the shop when I'm working on a blade. The world can go to Hell in a handbasket but as long as I have power and light I'm cookin'! It all boils down to the steel and your imagination and the tools as you apply them.


All the Best

Dileas Gu Brath

Feel free to email me if I can be of assistance.
 
Yeah all the above.
I would sugest getting the Grizzly grinder cost about 300$. I made my 1st grinder. cost about 400$.Order some 1095 steel in say 1\8 by 1 1\2 and lay out a profile and start grinding. A good hacksaw will help cut to the mark and build up determination. Try a couple of videos. Allen blade sells 2 -3 for 13$ i think Flat grinding and hollow grinding. Well worth the money.I went through the 1x42 size grinder and would hate to have to use 1 to grind a blade.
If you want to know how something is done email me and I'll tell you how I do it. Get another opinion.Watch the forums I picked a lot of info up there.
Take Care
TJ Smith
 
BobH and Dav, have given real good advice. I was taught in wood working class to build a project with hand tools before I was ever introduced to the power stuff.
I think the same thing applies here, a coupla good files, decent hacksaw blades and some paper, you should be able to turn out a few knifes before dipping into the savings account.
A common trap to fall into was spelled out very well by BobH, A very famous maker John Cooper never had a belt grinder, neither did Rudy Ruana.



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Sola Fide
 
Sears has a decent 2x42 belt grinder that I have used since I started making knives 3 years ago. It also has a 9 inch disc on it. It cost me 189 dollars. I had to make a better platten than what it came with, out of 2" angle Iron. This unit will also take 1 x 42 belts. Super Grit sells excelent belts in both sizes at very resonable prices they can be reached at www.supergrit.com or 800-822-4003. I bought a inexpensive drill press from harbor freight for 50 dollars and a metal bandsaw from the same outfit that sells reg for 179 dollars. I bought an adaptor for a elec motor from K & G that allowed me to put a buffer pad on an old swamp cooler motor. I found an old ceramic kiln , that I replaceed the elements in and used it for heat treating. For two years these were all the tools I had, except for misc handtools that I already had. The only two additions to my shop have been in the last 6 mos they are a Paragon heat treating oven and a small surface grinder for flattening stock for my folders. The surface grinder has made flattening my stock much easier and saved me tons of time, but I got by for two years without it. Before the surface grinder I had a jig that allowed me to flatten my stock in the disc side of the Sears belt grinder. The most important thing is practice practice practice dont be afraid to ask questions and take critisizm with a smile. Be patient and if you can find a knifemaker close to you see if you can watch in put together a knife. Many times you will have to find a way to accomplish a step in an alternate way than the books you described shows, dont be afraid to make mistakes, you will learn from them. You can see some of my work at www.angelfire.com.biz2/damascusknives. all but the forged knives were done with the equipment I described above. p.s. one thing I havent noticed in any posts is you need to wear a dust mask or respirator when grinding and polishing. The dust can cause fibrosis of the lungs.

[This message has been edited by BeowulftheGeat (edited 07-26-2000).]
 
ive been at it for about 31/2 years 2 of those full time, nicohson files are available at a hardwear store. you have more tools already than i did my first year. get the 1095 steel from jantz, 1-800-351-8900 and let your imaganation loose. i read tim mc creights book it starts with files and a old lawnmover blade, e-mail me anytime. wwwrhinoknives.com

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Everything above is well said information that should get you started.

The point has been made, but I shall make it again... advanced equipment makes knifemaking faster, but it doesn't do magic. You have to have the patience.

Tom has said it many times before: "go look at custom knives." I think people take that for granted. The first two knives I made were made without ever seeing more than a photo of a custom knife. When I did see those first customs, it totally changed my perspective on what I had done so far, and what I was about to do.

I guess to give you specific steps for getting started...

1.) Keep doing what you're doing, asking questions (in person is the best)!!!

2.) Get a copy of Knives Illustrated and Blade Magazine to see a pretty full spectrum of what is being produced in the custom knifemaking world and go to shows/maker's homes if you can. All this does is give you ideas (plus I still find myself very interested in the "Shop Tours" in KI)

3.) Start off with an inexpensive steel that won't make you cry too much if you screw up, but will be possible to make into a functioning knife: like 0-1 tool steel, or 1095.

4.) Get out in the shop and start trying things!!!

5.) After you screw some stuff up, come back here and ask questions. (You might get ribbed a little, but it's all in the sense of a bunch of guys standing around in their shops bs'ing, nothing more).

Start simple and keep it clean. I have come to the point where my shop is filled with the best names in equipment, and I wouldn't have it otherwise...but you need to get your feet wet before we start telling you to go spend $10,000 on equipment to get started.

Unless you're independently wealthy, in which case I can make you a shopping list.
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Best of luck
Nick
 
My advice to you is DON’T!!! It is worse than any disease known to man! Don’t pay any attention to any of the
post above, they are written by a bunch of carriers of this plague! Just don’t ever go to bladeforums again and you
“may” survive. It is worse than any addiction and there is no cure, even electro-therapy doesn’t work! I should
know, I just took a jolt yesterday in my shop! (!@#$% fan motor!!!)
Yeah, you may be told that it will OK, just a simple blade with wood scales at first can’t hurt! Before you know it,
you are looking for back issues of Blade or Knives Illustrated and scouring the countryside looking for an anvil!

The only advice I can offer is to TURN BACK before it is too late!!!!

C Wilkins
 
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