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I am interested in learning how to forge knives. I don't really know where to start so any help would be appreciated, I live in Memphis, TN.
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How To Interested in learning how to bladesmith
- Thread starter WESLEY3234
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Hey Wesley,
Use the search thread to search for whatever questions you might have. There are tons of threads dedicated to forging and many of your questions will already be answered here on Bladeforums.
Youtube would probably be your best bet for seeing the whole process done in action.
You could also google other bladesmiths near you and see if any of them teach.
Linus
Use the search thread to search for whatever questions you might have. There are tons of threads dedicated to forging and many of your questions will already be answered here on Bladeforums.
Youtube would probably be your best bet for seeing the whole process done in action.
You could also google other bladesmiths near you and see if any of them teach.
Linus
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Aug 20, 2004
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Welcome to Shop Talk, Wesley.
Strat by filling out your profile so we know where you live and a bit about you.
That will help us a lot in giving a good answer.
Read some of the many books on making knives. There are also lots of YouTube videos that offer a view of what it is all about.
Find a nearby maker or blacksmith/bladesmith/knife society near you and go for a visit. Many knife groups have lessons.
Some areas have courses at the local community college or university.
There are also schools to teach knifemaking and forging.
Be aware that it takes a bit of equipment and expense to set up a shop from scratch. You can get by with simpler tools in the beginning for stock removal, buy forging requires all that equipment plus a forge and forging tools. A grinder of some sort will become a necessity very soon. Then there is steel, quench oil, handle material, etc. Again, you can start simple and build up to more elaborate materials and supplies. A lot will depend on your abilities to build things vs buying them.
Good luck and stick around. It is a fun journey. I'm approaching my 65th year of forging and still love it. I started in 1961 with old tire irons for the steel, a ball pein hammer, a home built forge, and coal from the RR tracks.
Strat by filling out your profile so we know where you live and a bit about you.
That will help us a lot in giving a good answer.
Read some of the many books on making knives. There are also lots of YouTube videos that offer a view of what it is all about.
Find a nearby maker or blacksmith/bladesmith/knife society near you and go for a visit. Many knife groups have lessons.
Some areas have courses at the local community college or university.
There are also schools to teach knifemaking and forging.
Be aware that it takes a bit of equipment and expense to set up a shop from scratch. You can get by with simpler tools in the beginning for stock removal, buy forging requires all that equipment plus a forge and forging tools. A grinder of some sort will become a necessity very soon. Then there is steel, quench oil, handle material, etc. Again, you can start simple and build up to more elaborate materials and supplies. A lot will depend on your abilities to build things vs buying them.
Good luck and stick around. It is a fun journey. I'm approaching my 65th year of forging and still love it. I started in 1961 with old tire irons for the steel, a ball pein hammer, a home built forge, and coal from the RR tracks.