Is it possible to become an addict without taking a hit?

[Fletch Helical]

I've been wondering about this because at the moment, I for the most part, know Jack about making a knife. I haven't even made one yet, I have no serious tools to even make one. About the only thing I have as far as metal working tools is a bench grinder and an angle grinder (and if it's possible to do any cutting out of a blade with it a sawzall).

However I've already got a chunk of buckeye burl I won in a contest here. I'm ordering blocks of wood from Burl Source he's selling off, and I bought some G11. Oh I also got a small bar of 1084 from Kelly, and have been emailing Aldo about picking up some 1084. All within the last few days and, at the moment, I literally have NO IDEA what to do with basically any of it. However something tells me that some of these things seem like a good deal and I feel compelled to get it. Am I weird because I'm already stocking up on some materials even though I have no clue as to whether or not I'll make a decent knife or if I'll even like doing it? I feel like an adolescent kid who has all these great ideas about what I'll do when I get in bed with a girl although I have no idea what the experience is remotely like.... I know I want it, just don't know what to do with it.

 

[hellgap]

Fletch last DEC I had the same wierd thought and have made 60 plus knives since . I have over 2 thousand dollars worth of stabilized scales and keep about 4 pieces of spare steel on hand for custom orders. I have 15 knives due back from HT any day and 30 finished knives. My moto is the more you got the more you sell. Once you get into it and the bug bites its hard to shake loose. lmao

 

[White Rabbit]

The bench and angle grinder are the two power tools I use most in the shop, so you've got a great starting place. Just jump in. Come up with a good plan and get going. Nothing's going to make a knife better than having a good deal of experience.

There's a quote I picked up from Jens Anso that goes something to the effect of "If you don't plan on making your second knife, don't bother with the first"

 

[Fletch Helical]

The bench and angle grinder are the two power tools I use most in the shop, so you've got a great starting place. Just jump in. Come up with a good plan and get going. Nothing's going to make a knife better than having a good deal of experience.

There's a quote I picked up from Jens Anso that goes something to the effect of "If you don't plan on making your second knife, don't bother with the first"

Well I'm in the process of getting the first one going Bladsmith has volunteered a great deal of help in my fist knife design thread I posted which is now a WIP thread.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would advise not getting too heavy into stocking up on materials before you know what to do with them. BTW, G-11 isn't the thing for newbie knife work.
Some handle wood and a stick or two of 1084 isn't excessive, though.

IIRC, you have a bench grinder ( the type with two 6" wheels), which can be used to do some profiling, but is very different from a belt grinder. The angle grinder can be used with care to remove a lot of material prior to hand filing/sanding, but it can ruin a blade in a second flat, so go slow and take care with it.

What I suggest to those bitten by the bug is to read,read,read. Buy as many knife making books and videos as you can. Read all the tutorials, and threads you can pull up on your computer. Get a sketch book and draw all sorts of knives. Re-draw them as you change your ideas. Keep a stack of steno pads and make notes on every idea and design you think of. Don't tear off the pages, save them to look back on. I have dozens sitting about with drawings and notes covering the pages.

After buying files and sandpaper, plan on your first main tool. If you are really thinking of doing this for a long term hobby, then a belt grinder is the first tool I would buy. You can get a Bader/KMG clone starting at less than $400 ( plus motor and contact wheels). Complete units run staring at $600 ( plus motor).It can run into several thousand for a full blown industrial unit. Startup belt order will set you back $50-100. There are other choices, but starting with a 2X72 will save you money in the long run.
Second tool is a drill press. Even a cheap $100 unit will work, but the sturdier the better.

Your starter blade will be going out in a day or two.

Stacy