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Oldtools

Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
59
I'm thinking of putting together a kit. Any advice is welcome. This will be my first kit knife.

Areas of advice to cover:

Tools?
Finishes?
Polishes?

I'm in your hands. Oh and what kit to get too. :)

Thanks.
 
Your first investment should be a good book or several good books.
Then if you know what you want to do and how you want to do it, you should be able to make a good knife with some files, sandpaper and elbowgrease.
Enjoy!
 
Read the Noobie sticky at the beginning of this forum.there is a lot of info there.
Learn how to use the search function on this forum,too.Most questions from new makers have been asked at least 100 times.
Get a couple of (required reading) books. The most recommended are: "the $50 Knife Shop",by Wayne Goddard; "Step-by-Step Knifemaking",by David Boye; "The complete Bladesmith",by Jim Hrisoulas.There are many others available.
For video rentals,check out www.technicalvideorental.com .
Order catalogs from Jantz,Texas Knife Supply,and K&G .
Check out the knife kits and supplies at www.knifekit.com .
When you get more serious and start looking for tools and supplies there are some great suppliers right on this forum,like Rob Frisk at Beaumont Metal Works,and Darren Ellis at Ellis Refractory Supply.
Find a maker near you and he/she will be glad to teach you.
Go to a knife show and/or a hammer-in and meet makers and suppliers.
Make this forum your home page and read it every day.There are thousands of total years of experience available here.
Most of all ,have fun and take your time.
Stacy
 
Oldtools,

you can dive in as far as you want. As Hengelo said you can start with minmal tools to see if you catch the bug. If you do watch out it is very addictive. Many knife suppliers offer good kits, K&G Texas Knifemakers, Koval, Jantz just to name a few. Look at their sites and see what you like. i would order a Kit with all the parts, blade, handle, and fixtures included. Then it is just a matter of how far you want to take it. You can get a mirror polish with sandpaper to the microfine grits. Or just go for a satin finish. Keep looking around the forums. They will provide great info. Definitly get a few good books, they wiil guide you thru the steps and keep you from having to backtrack. Just keep in mind the books are the way the authors do it. Some things may not work for you. The main thing is to have fun. Make what you enjoy and enjoy what you make.

Chuck
 
thats a tough one. Drill Press for sure. I use the $99 Delta benchmounted one. HEll...I want 2! Good drill IMHO.
 
indian george said:
You should come to our Hammer-In on 9/9/6. We will be have Demos and hands on training.
Click to expand...


This is where you will really learn. Go and see how it is done from bar to blade. You may find a new hobby er (obsession).:D

Chuck
 
Well, I should make a confession. I am a gunsmith, although I don't have a business premises at this time and the way things have been over the last few years I'm not sure I want to be "Legal" again.

All of my major tools are in storage and I have any tool I could ever want to use for metal working except a forge or furnace of some kind. I also have oxy, stick, and MIG welders.

I was hoping someone would say, well the so-and-so knife is a great first project.

At the present time I have access to a scroll saw, small band saw, and small drill press. I never have purchased any books on knife making, so thank you for the suggestions of which ones to buy.

I've been looking at the stickies and I have been thinking about making my own forge, but I'm probably putting the cart before the horse. I know I could use one to melt down scrap that I can find in my area, but then what? LOL

I'll keep looking through the stickies to find other info. and get back to you all.

Thanks again.

Keep em sharp.
 
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