Market research: a beginning knifemaking book?

Jason and Stacy: Put me in for a book order!🤣
I look forward to any books/learning materials y’all put out.
 
The answer to all of this came to me as I was driving home from work yesterday. I was in the middle of nowhere Alabama when up ahead I saw a young man in his driveway flailing wildly. Assuming he was being set upon by bees or fire ants I was ready to pull over and lend him assistance but as I got closer I saw he was using one of those virtual reality gaming systems and apparently being attacked from all sides.

You could create the first ever virtual reality knife making program!!! It would be incredible!
 
If you grab a blade at black heat in VR does it still burn?
 
Jason Fry said:
If you grab a blade at black heat in VR does it still burn?
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I’m sure you can work something out. Also need to figure out how to give that acetone in the mangled lumps of flesh where my fingertips used to be feeling…
 
This is so interesting. I have wanted to try making a knife (well, let's be honest, a knife-like object) for a very long time, but all the entry books like Goddard's kind of assume that the reader is sort of a handyman in the first place.

I don't think it's appropriate to crap on younger people born in the 1980s or 1990s who grew up without ever doing anything with hand tools other than a Phillips screwdriver to open a battery cover, but that's kind of where a lot of folks (including myself) are. I work remotely in an office setting. I'm bright, but I have almost no experience with power tools more complex than a drill. Just a fact of what growing up since the 90s and working in the knowledge economy means, now. But I think maybe a lot of folks who live that sort of life have often wanted to just make something by hand. There's some meaning to that, and it's missing in the work we do electronically on a day-to-day basis.

I'd love a book that didn't assume I knew how to use all the tools I needed to buy, and the comments from others about good tools being cheaper and more available now than when the first knifemaking books came out is well put, also. Many folks looking to maybe make a knife now have more disposable money to buy tools and less practical experience using them as compared to prior generations.
 
madcap_magician said:
This is so interesting. I have wanted to try making a knife (well, let's be honest, a knife-like object) for a very long time, but all the entry books like Goddard's kind of assume that the reader is sort of a handyman in the first place.

I don't think it's appropriate to crap on younger people born in the 1980s or 1990s who grew up without ever doing anything with hand tools other than a Phillips screwdriver to open a battery cover, but that's kind of where a lot of folks (including myself) are. I work remotely in an office setting. I'm bright, but I have almost no experience with power tools more complex than a drill. Just a fact of what growing up since the 90s and working in the knowledge economy means, now. But I think maybe a lot of folks who live that sort of life have often wanted to just make something by hand. There's some meaning to that, and it's missing in the work we do electronically on a day-to-day basis.

I'd love a book that didn't assume I knew how to use all the tools I needed to buy, and the comments from others about good tools being cheaper and more available now than when the first knifemaking books came out is well put, also. Many folks looking to maybe make a knife now have more disposable money to buy tools and less practical experience using them as compared to prior generations.
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You are exactly the target audience I’m thinking of.
 
madcap_magician said:
This is so interesting. I have wanted to try making a knife (well, let's be honest, a knife-like object) for a very long time, but all the entry books like Goddard's kind of assume that the reader is sort of a handyman in the first place.

I don't think it's appropriate to crap on younger people born in the 1980s or 1990s who grew up without ever doing anything with hand tools other than a Phillips screwdriver to open a battery cover, but that's kind of where a lot of folks (including myself) are. I work remotely in an office setting. I'm bright, but I have almost no experience with power tools more complex than a drill. Just a fact of what growing up since the 90s and working in the knowledge economy means, now. But I think maybe a lot of folks who live that sort of life have often wanted to just make something by hand. There's some meaning to that, and it's missing in the work we do electronically on a day-to-day basis.

I'd love a book that didn't assume I knew how to use all the tools I needed to buy, and the comments from others about good tools being cheaper and more available now than when the first knifemaking books came out is well put, also. Many folks looking to maybe make a knife now have more disposable money to buy tools and less practical experience using them as compared to prior generations.
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No one is crapping on them. My first response to his inquiry pointed out exactly what you’re saying. Most knife making books “assume” more than a beginner’s knowledge of the equipment they are working with. I went to engineering school with a very bright young man who didn’t know you could drill holes in metal. I didn’t ask him if he lived under a rock, I said “put your safety glasses on because you’re about to do it”. I think a book that assumed no prior experience could become the new standard in a beginner’s knife making guide.
 
ScarFoot said:
No one is crapping on them. My first response to his inquiry pointed out exactly what you’re saying. Most knife making books “assume” more than a beginner’s knowledge of the equipment they are working with. I went to engineering school with a very bright young man who didn’t know you could drill holes in metal. I didn’t ask him if he lived under a rock, I said “put your safety glasses on because you’re about to do it”. I think a book that assumed no prior experience could become the new standard in a beginner’s knife making guide.
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Yes, I was agreeing with you.
 
madcap_magician said:
This is so interesting. I have wanted to try making a knife (well, let's be honest, a knife-like object) for a very long time, but all the entry books like Goddard's kind of assume that the reader is sort of a handyman in the first place.

I don't think it's appropriate to crap on younger people born in the 1980s or 1990s who grew up without ever doing anything with hand tools other than a Phillips screwdriver to open a battery cover, but that's kind of where a lot of folks (including myself) are. I work remotely in an office setting. I'm bright, but I have almost no experience with power tools more complex than a drill. Just a fact of what growing up since the 90s and working in the knowledge economy means, now. But I think maybe a lot of folks who live that sort of life have often wanted to just make something by hand. There's some meaning to that, and it's missing in the work we do electronically on a day-to-day basis.

I'd love a book that didn't assume I knew how to use all the tools I needed to buy, and the comments from others about good tools being cheaper and more available now than when the first knifemaking books came out is well put, also. Many folks looking to maybe make a knife now have more disposable money to buy tools and less practical experience using them as compared to prior generations.
Click to expand...
Perhaps looking into a local makerspace that has the tools and knowhow to teach you how to use them is your answer.
In the interest of full disclosure, I run the metal shop and forge at a makerspace, and not all are created equal.
But now we're straying from the topic. Unless Jason adds a chapter about makerspaces for those folks, that is.
 
Makerspaces... hadn't thought about it, but it's a good idea
 
a beginner's knife making book should lean heavily into what the fundamental tool options are, how to use them, and insight into the basic steps of the process for making a basic knife- and not focus at all on design. That's a whole other book.
 
I don't know that a book that teaches knife making and basic tool use would be a success. About a year ago I read about 5 how to knife books. If one also taught hacksaw, drill, hammer, etc. use, I can't say I'd recommend the book. These are 2 different subjects.
 
I have the introductory part of the book covering tools and basic procedures.
The main body is broken down into segments on Metallurgy, Thermal Processes, Materials and Steels, Shaping and Finishing, Handles, and Miscellaneous Stuff.
I have appendices for data sheets, charts, suppliers, links, etc. I am toying with a glossary, but the book is looking pretty big all ready.

The current title of the Knifemaking book is -

The Modern Bladesmith - Metallurgical Knifemaking
Modern Methods for an Ancient Craft
It isn't all high-tech as the title might imply, but will be based on science, not folklore. I try to explain things in ways that a person seeking a How-To will get what he wants and someone wanting to know what is happening in the knifemaking processes will get his answers, too.

I have about ten or so shorter books in the works on a specific blade/knife styles, Shop Procedures and Tips, etc..
The first will be - Making the Classic Scottish Sgian Dubh. It will likely be ready before the big book is.

A few of the future specific knife books are:
Making the Classic Drop Point Hunter
Making Your First Sword
Making Bowie Knives
Making Kitchen Knives
The Knife Shop - The KISS Way to Get Started in Knifemaking
Shop Tools and Things You Can Make Yourself
Japanese Blades - How to Make Them in the Modern Knife Shop

I also will put out a free book called - Shop Safety

I'll give you the prologue from the Knife Shop Book - "KISS is a common phrase for people getting started in a new hobby. It is good advice ... BUT, things that start with a Kiss often get complicated. Knowing where you want to start and where you hope to end up makes it less complicated."
 
I do have a question for you chaps -

On the advice of family, friends, and acquaintances, I had been working on a different kind of book.
It will have my life stories and interesting family history (e.g., one grandfather patented the dial phone and the other won the Iron Cross in WW1), my thoughts and advice on life as well as knifemaking, fun stories ranging from adventures in The Great Dismal Swamp to making the gift for Queen Elizabeth 2. It isn't a How-To book like the others, but a bit more of a lighthearted fireside chat with "Good Advice" related to ethics, reputation, getting known, playing by the rules, etc.. It will also have a cookbook section with many of my recipes and cooking tips (from other folks, too). I will try and get some other well-known folks here to add a short personal story chapter.
At the end of each chapter will be some sort of interesting quote, trivia fact, or myth-busting an old wife's tale or common knowledge we all grew up learning. *

It will be a mix of my philosophy, that of many others here, and some of the good discussions we have had in Shop Talk in the past.

The title of the file is:
"Let's Talk SHOP TALK - Everything I Needed to Know About Life Came from Bladeforums Shop Talk."

Obviously, I will get Spark's OK.
Ed doesn't have a claim on the name "Shop Talk" any more than David Boye and many others do on "Knifemaking".

* Samples Wives Tale myth-busting:
As a kid, you likely were told by grown-ups not to go certain places or play in the woods alone because you "you'll be kidnapped and murdered". In the USA, the chance of being kidnapped by a stranger is .0004%. It is far more likely to be kidnapped by a family member or family friend. The chance of being kidnapped and murdered by a stranger is .00000003%. To put that into terms you can wrap your mind around, you have a .0001% chance of being struck by lightning, which is a 3333 times greater chance than being kidnapped and murdered by a stranger.
Proof - I have been struck by lightning three times but never kidnapped and murdered, ... so it's true.

"You're going to shoot someone's eye out with that BB gun." - We all saw the Christmas Story movie and have heard the warning.
Annually, there are about 10 non-powder firearms eye injuries per 100,000 children in the USA (.001%). Of these 95% are from paintball/airsoft guns.
I'll be honest - We played war in the woods in the 1950's with slingshots and BB guns. We shot each other all the time. No helmets, goggles, or protective gear. - Yes, we were stupid kids.
Proof - At my graduation there was one kid with an eye patch. It wasn't from a BB gun. Every adult I knew with an eye patch lost it in the war. Ban war, not BB guns.
 
I believe that a “How to make Knives” book needs to begin will a “ How to use Tools” .
Let’s face it, if you’re younger then 50 chances are your high school didn’t even have Shop classes. Years ago we were a Rural/Agricultural society. Many of us grew up on a farm, near a farm, “repaired” things found in Grandpa’s garage/barn etc. Local high schools had a wood shop, metal shop, small engine repair or even car engine repair classes. Today, kids aren’t exposed to tools, power equipment, etc. unless mom or dad work in a trade or have a hobby like knife making. Basics like proper use of a file, difference between a hack saw, rip saw or crosscut saw, securing item when drilling holes, etc. Then when getting into more advanced methods, grinder and buffer safety. Not wearing loose clothing, jewelry around power equipment. Things that our grandparents, parents or even School teachers taught us so we’d survive our inquisitive years. My daughter’s first class at school using any sort of tools or power equipment was freshman year of college. And it was only because she was an engineering student and the school made all engineering students get signed off on proper safety protocols and usage of tools in the lab/shop.
 
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