Need help getting started

jason29681

jason29681

Joined
Dec 30, 2011
Messages
24
Hi all, I am an outdoorsman probably like a lot of you. I want to get into making knives. I have no experience, but I would like to start. I don’t have any tools yet other than hand tools I used when I was a telecomm technician. I do realize I’m going to have to invest into some equipment. I was thinking maybe I would start off buying steel blanks already cut and ready to go. Then start with making custom handles out of bone or stag. If I do it that way what would be the absolute must have equipment to purchase first? Where would you recommend buying blanks?
 
I have some older blanks that I just haven't had time to do anything with. They are heat treated and finish ground, just need handles. I would be happy to send them to you, to help get you started. I can also send you a list of supplies you will need.
You need to fill out some profile info so we all know your not underage.:eek:
PM me and I will help you out.
Jason B Stout
 
Thats a super generous offer, if you need more then there are several places that sell them basically in the same condition. I personally would recommend Gene Martin, he has some nice ones in good steel. I am personally working on two that I got from him. Ofcourse free beats all and from a great maker cant do any better then that.
 
You didn't say whether you were planning on making a full tang or hidden tang knife. Two pieces of equipment that helped me a lot were a belt sander and a drill press. I have a Harbor Freight 1X30 belt sander and it worked well for cleaning up pre made blades, shaping and cleaning up handles. But, I am doing stock removal now and a wider, longer belt driven by a more powerful motor would speed things up. You may need to get a carbide drill bit to cut through tempered steel for holes in case you want to pin your handles. Most of the knives I made were full tang. The hidden tang knives require a different approach.
 
A drill press, number one.
Some kind of belt sander/grinder.
A portaband, mounted on a bench or in a vise. Can cut metals for fittings, fasteners, or blades, and handle materials.
A bunch of smaller files, round, half round, knife edge, flat.
A bunch of clamps, smaller c-clamps, some nice kant-twist clamps if you feel wealthy.
Books on knifemaking, vids on knifemaking, read a bunch here.
 
+1 on Salem's list. I'd put the order as follows:

1) Files (large assortment from needle files to large bastards)
2) Drill Press (size should be large enough to handle the length of a handle if working on hidden tang)
3) Clamps (several C-clamps of various sizes, at least one 12" ratchet clamp)
4) Belt sander (start with Harbor Freight 1 x 30 for handle shaping, avoid 4 x 36... larger is NOT better in this case)
5) Portaband saw with bimetallic blades (good for wood, plastic or metal, and cheap at Harbor Freight)
 
jason29681 said:
Hi all, I am an outdoorsman probably like a lot of you. I want to get into making knives. I have no experience, but I would like to start.

I don’t have any tools yet other than hand tools I used when I was a telecomm technician.
I do realize I’m going to have to invest into some equipment.

I was thinking maybe I would start off buying steel blanks already cut and ready to go.

Then start with making custom handles out of bone or stag.
If I do it that way what would be the absolute must have equipment to purchase first?

Where would you recommend buying blanks?
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/699736-Knifemaking-Suppliers-List
 
Jason 29681,
I sent you a PM, I will get your blade in the mail, along with a list of supplies from vendors I trust.
Good luck and welcome.
Jason Burley Stout
 
Lots of good online stores (Jantz,USA Knife Maker, Knife Supply, Texas Knife). Starting with a blank is fine, but for the price of a blank, you can get 4 feet of Aldo's 1084 in 1" x 1/8". Shipping is not bad but I'd buy like $50 worth to have around. Get a variety of widths and thicknesses for future projects. Handle meterial.. I'd start with stuff on sale or cheaper grade stuff unless you know you have the skill to work the material properly. Wood is a good place to start, and you can always replace with the good stuff later once your skills are up to snuff. For this build I used a grinder and files only.. and the grinder just to get the shape. Only files for the finishing of the shape and the bevels/edge.

Starting the most expensive part is the belt grinder, but it's not needed. You can do just fine with only files. Using files to do your bevels for the first few knives is a great way to get the feel for how the metal feels and works in your hands. I'd recommend this, as you saw in my thread post on here. I use a Harbor Freight drill press ($50) and a angle grinder to get the basic shape from a piece of stock before moving on to the files. From the files I will go to sand paper to finish.

Bare minimum to get you in the game:
1) Files (I'd suggest at minimum a 10" and a 8", I don't like the 12" as much as a 10" so far)
2) Vice (I like a 40lb one.. again Harbor Freight)
2) Drill Press (Cheap Harbor Freight will work fine)
3) Clamps (several C-clamps of various sizes)
4) Angle Grinder (Harbor Freight) or hand hacksaw (takes a long time to cut a blank with a hacksaw but can be done with patience)
5) File Brush .. Very Important!!

If you have the coin to invest.. others material lists are very good.

Good luck!!
 
Jason, Since we're both in Simpsonville, maybe I can help you a little -- at the least, I can show you several things NOT to do! I'll set you up with some ironwood scales to go with the blade from JBS if you'd like. You can email me at lytefoot45(at)charter.net.
Welcome to the addiction and Happy New Year
Wayne
 
Wow thanks everybody for your help! I cant believe it.

I talked to my grandfather today to find out if he had any tools he could pass down to me. He recently had to stop working on small engines due to his health. He is willing to give me a vice that hes had for thirty years and he mentioned he thought he had a belt sander with a bad belt. I bet he has some files and brushes too. Other than that Im on my own to have to buy some things. Bad timing, right after christmas! I even need a work bench :( but at least I have a garage :o
 
I'll bet your grandfather has a lot of other tools that you don't know yet that you can use for making knives.

Starting out I looked for handle material at GoodWill. There are bookends, trays, boxes, etc that occasionally you find made of some nice wood. Right now I have a carved elephant that some day will become a handle on a hidden tang knife.

Good luck and have fun.

- Paul Meske
 
DSC05267.jpgView attachment 2497DSC05270.jpgDSC05271.jpgDSC05273.jpg

Ok guys this is what I got from my Gpas house. What do you think? Can I make knives with this? The drill press and vise are antiques lol. Can I use these grinders? Where can I get what I need for this belt grinder?

Dont hold back I can take criticism. Thanks again everybody.
 

Attachments

  • DSC05269.jpg
    DSC05269.jpg
    77.2 KB · Views: 27
Last edited:
Didn't see a drill press pic, and the attachment didn't work for me.

I had one of those little belt sanders for a while. Not really a machine for steel, but it helped with flattening handle scales after ripping them and such like. Don't know what you need for it, but if it's just the abrasives, you can find belts for it at almost any hardware store. Just make sure you are getting the right belt length. Looks like a 4x36 maybe to me. You will also find self adhesive sanding discs for the disc part, or you can just use sandpaper, spray glue to the disc, then trim off with a knife.

In my opinion bench grinder don't have much of a place in knifemaking. You could take the guards off of one and make it into a buffer for handles and fittings.

The dremel, c-clamps and files will all be useful if they are in decent shape. Pretty good score there.
 
That drill press is NARLEY:eek: I would be careful, I think I see some exposed wires. The belt sander will be good for handles and you could rough some bevels and do some blade profiling it will be slow. The grinders will make great buffers, keep a rock on one for sharpening drill bits. You are starting with more than most. Remember to get that book I told you about it's the best.
Jason
 
What book are you referring to JBS Toolmaker? Just getting started in this myself and would like to get the book you are talking about.

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top