Knives for Christmas - First Time Maker

Kyledf

Kyledf

Joined
Aug 8, 2013
Messages
62
Hello everyone, since graduating college and finally having the time and resources to try my hand at knife making I decided to make a run of knives for my family this Christmas.

I selected four patterns to produce and purchased 1/8" 1095 steel for my blades. The three large patterns are approximately 9" overall and sport Dymondwood handles in Walnut, Black/Grey, and Cocobolo look-alike patterns. I attached the handles using epoxy, 1/8" brass pins, and 1/4" brass tubing. The small patterns is approximately 6" overall and was finished with para cord wrapped handles. All knives have scandi styled edges with about 30 degree inclusive bevels.

The blades were profiled using a bench grinder and cleaned up with my new Harbor Freight 1"x30" belt sander. The bevels were primarily filed with my home made file guide (reference Aaron Gough) and finished on the belt sander. The smaller pattern were entirely hand ground on the 1x30.

I heat treated using a wood stove by heating to non-magnetic and quenching in canola oil. Tempering was completed in 2, 1 hour heats in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The handles were fit and drilled with a hand-held drill, shaped with the 1x30, and finished by hand sanding to 800 grit.

Sheaths are kydex and have double 1" nylon belt loops. Sheaths for the large pattern knives are single piece "fold over" designs; sheaths for the small pattern knives are two piece "sandwich" style. All sheaths are secured using extra-small 1/8" long rivets from my local Tandy Leather store.

It is my intention to continue making knives, especially considering I have no finished this run yet, to progress my skills and eventually upgrade my membership to knifemaker/craftsman and offer my designs here. I hope you all enjoyed your Holidays, please take a look through my photos, feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

Kyle Foster


The full run consists of 19 knives, 11 large patterns and 8 small patterns. Unfinished knives can be seen to the sides.





The first drop point and two spear points.



















 
Welcome! That's quite a batch to undertake for your first project. I know some of the experienced bladesmiths here advise against batch building as a beginner. It does help learn things like freehand grinding quicker, but tends to lower the quality of other things. I was told once to work on each blade as carefully and skillfully as I am able, as that really helps develop the skills needed to produce something great eventually. There is a serious wealth of free knowledge here from guys who do astounding things....ie....Stacy. If you want to eventually make knives you can sell here among them, I would get to know them, read their past posts, and really listen to their advice.
 
Welcome to Shop Talk. Fill out your profile so we know a bit about you and where you live.

Congratulations on your first knives. They are pretty good for a new maker. That is a large batch on knives to tackle on the first go around. As tinman said, single knives or at most two at a time is a far better way to get started. Better to repeat an error only once or twice than ten times before you discover the error.

On your next knife, try to work on your finish a lot more. The handles look about half way done on this first batch. The blades could use a good bit more finishing, too. Take a look at some blades in the Gallery and ones posted by makers here and you will also see that the shape of your first ones is a bit fat and "blunt". If the edge is what cuts, there is generally no need for a very wide blade. Handles generally don't need to be so wide, either.

You really need to read up and look at some blades and understand how the bevel is made. It should be a continuous taper from top to bottom. On most knives, that is from edge to spine. At the edge the bevel should end up being about .020-.030" before HT, and only about .005-.010" wide after HT and cleanup. The final sharpening makes this narrow bevel a sharp edge. The secondary bevel formed by the sharpening is a rather small bevel, and doesn't go far up the main bevel.

Again, congrats! Post some sketches of your next knife plan for the folks here to help you refine the details. Many heads always plans better than one.... and many eyes see things far clearer than two.
 
Good Morning,

Thanks for the advice, now that I'm past Christmas and don't feel pressed for time I look forward to working more slowly. Its been a great experience, I've learned a lot and look forward to the next project. I have a couple sketches and will likely take your advice and share them for discussion.

My next project will be two smallish kitchen knives requested by family members.

I can feel it now, this is a dangerous road. Please stop me now, but seriously, don't.

Kyle
 
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