Hard to believe its only been just over a year since I started this hobby.
I wanted to start this thread to show newbies(like myself) the things you can accomplish and the strides you can make in a year of intermittent, part time knifemaking.
Like many people i started out by grinding an old file. Back then I only had a bench grinder and im not even sure the file was annealed. Needless to say, it looked aweful.
Nevertheless, you can still learn.
Immediately I moved on. Next I began using saw blades, annealing them with a blow torch and cutting them out with an angle grinder.
Definately improved results. As you can see I also dabbled in leatherwork, which I believe is essential for all makers to at least experiment with.
I made a few more in this style before deciding on something a little more ambitious.
After a short trip to the local wreckers, I returned home with a set of leaf springs from an old mazda pickup. I annealed them in a fire overnight and the next day began work on two new blades.
Using only an angle grinder, drill press and handheld belt sander i created these
and then they sat. unhardened and unfinished.
Perhaps from a lack of motivation or fear, i couldnt be bothered to continue.
Months later i was once again bit by the bug. i bought a multitool grinder attachment(which i still use) and got back to work.
I reprofiled them and sent them away to be professionally heat treated.
about a week after that i had created these
I still marvel at how i managed to change those rough cut knife shaped objects into the knives you see above. The handles are my own homemade micarta also.
Over the next several months i put out several other blades.
And just this last month with University over for the year ive really been going into overtime
and finished another 4 this week
i have another 8 projects ongoing(including folders) and several more brewing inside my head.
I hope other newbies can find inspiration in these images, the world can never have too many custom knifemakers.
Thanks for checking out my stuff!
I wanted to start this thread to show newbies(like myself) the things you can accomplish and the strides you can make in a year of intermittent, part time knifemaking.
Like many people i started out by grinding an old file. Back then I only had a bench grinder and im not even sure the file was annealed. Needless to say, it looked aweful.
Nevertheless, you can still learn.
Immediately I moved on. Next I began using saw blades, annealing them with a blow torch and cutting them out with an angle grinder.
Definately improved results. As you can see I also dabbled in leatherwork, which I believe is essential for all makers to at least experiment with.
I made a few more in this style before deciding on something a little more ambitious.
After a short trip to the local wreckers, I returned home with a set of leaf springs from an old mazda pickup. I annealed them in a fire overnight and the next day began work on two new blades.
Using only an angle grinder, drill press and handheld belt sander i created these
and then they sat. unhardened and unfinished.
Perhaps from a lack of motivation or fear, i couldnt be bothered to continue.
Months later i was once again bit by the bug. i bought a multitool grinder attachment(which i still use) and got back to work.
I reprofiled them and sent them away to be professionally heat treated.
about a week after that i had created these
I still marvel at how i managed to change those rough cut knife shaped objects into the knives you see above. The handles are my own homemade micarta also.
Over the next several months i put out several other blades.
And just this last month with University over for the year ive really been going into overtime
and finished another 4 this week
i have another 8 projects ongoing(including folders) and several more brewing inside my head.
I hope other newbies can find inspiration in these images, the world can never have too many custom knifemakers.
Thanks for checking out my stuff!
i really like those kitchen knives too...