New Guy

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rannalf

Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
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Howdy everyone! I have been lurking around here for a few days and decided to register as I am interested in knives, and knife making. I probably wouldn't have registered, but you guys seem like a great bunch of folks. The amount of knowledge that is willingly shared around here amazes me.

I expected to see "I can't show that part, it is a secret" at least a few times in the first 10 pages of the Shop Talk that I have read through. Not once though! In fact, even when people were doing something that really sounded wrong, you guys were giving gentle guidance without it becoming a big flame war. That is refreshing compared to some other internet forums around.

Based on all that, I am going to make a knife myself. Well, hopefully more than one! I have a few designs drawn up. I have been monkeying around with a piece of junk steel from HD to understand the concepts behind working with drill and file. While I am not good at it, I can say that I am starting to understand the ideas.

I have a decently outfitted garage (mostly for working on cars) with hand tools, electric drills, files, hammers, an angle grinder, a HF 1x30 belt sander, etc. I don't have a welder, or a big grinder (which I am pining for after reading here, lol!) but will be on the lookout for one. I would have gotten into this a long time ago if I realized that there was so much help and encouragement available out there from such talented people.

I can also see that my tool budget is probably going to take a hit when I order a few knives from some of the members here :p

Anyway, I hope to get to know you all better soon, and hopefully have something to show for my time behind the file sometime soon.
 
Welcome to the Forums! It is a great place here full of supportive people! Once you make your first knife you will be hooked!
 
From my experience you jumped in quick if you only lurked for a few days. It took me Months to start on my own slide down the slippery slope! Welcome.
 
Welcome to the BF.
Abandon hope all ye who enter here.
Knifemaking is highly addictive.
 
Oh, it's not that bad... you can quit any time you want... really... at least theoretically. Of course, nobody has ever tried... at least nobody that lived to tell the story. But the theory is sound... trust me.
 
Welcome! Loads of knowledgeable and passionate people here, a great place to learn.
 
Stop procrastinating. Get some good steel and start making things to cut your fingers with. You probably already have everything you need in your shop to get started.

A suggestion, for your first knife work up a simple design with not more than a 4" blade. The beauty of a knife is not in how complicated it is but in how it's made.

Good luck, welcome, and jump in the pool, the water's fine!

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
Ok Paul :D

Order Details:

Code Item Qty Price Grand Total
XH1220 1095 Hi-Carbon Steel 3/16 x 2 x 18
1 $10.95 $10.95
XH0820 1095 Hi-Carbon Steel 1/8 x 2 x 18
1 $8.95 $8.95
XJ518 1/4" x 2" x 18" 5160 High Carbon
1 $9.95 $9.95
GJ114 Black G-10 Slab
1 $17.95 $17.95
MI647 Olive Canvas Micarta
1 $7.95 $7.95
MI642 Black Linen Micarta
1 $5.50 $5.50
CP624 Stainless Corby Rivet 1/4 head x 1 length
6 $1.85 $11.10
RD6 Rivet Drill--1/4 head .1875 shank
1 $19.95 $19.95
AS509 Stainless Tubing 1/4 x 9
1 $2.65 $2.65

Subtotal: : $94.95
Tax: $0.00
Shipping Cost: $9.95
Grand Total: $104.90

I can't wait until next week! Let me know if I am missing anything obvious.....
 
I do, I will have to scan them in, but I have drawings for probably a dozen knives. Not sure if any of them will get made the way they are drawn :D I want to start with a father and son set of utility/camp knives for myself and my 12 year old son who is a Boy Scout. I will see if I can get some pics up tomorrow since I am working tonight (unless I get bored and can whip them up on the PC here).
 
Ok, let's see if this works:

What I want to make first for my son and I (the top two) -



And one that I got inspired to draw after seeing the Les Suete Utility:

 
The first 3 aren't bad. You need to round out some of the sharper corners and get rid of the straight lines. Even very large radius curves are more pleasing to the eye. Cut them out of stiff cardboard to help work out the practical aspect. When I work on a design I usually have to go back and forth between drawing and cardboard cutout at least 3-4 times before I get to something usable. And even then it usually gets tweaked when building it.

Keep up the good work.
 
I can see you’ve been thinking about this. Looking at the first set of three drawings my initial impression is “BIG”. There is nothing wrong with big knives, just keep in mind though that the process of making a knife is simply to remove all the metal that isn’t your knife. Typically the bigger the knife, the more metal that has to be removed, the more work there is involved and the more time it will take to do it, especially if it is being done with files.

The second set of two drawings also seem somewhat large to me, or maybe WIDE (from cutting edge to spine) is more accurate. Regarding the top drawing, what is the purpose of the half-circle cut-out right behind the cutting edge? Is it a place to place a finger to “choke up” on the blade for precision work? If so why not eliminate the cut-out and extend the cutting edge back to where the cut-out currently is. You would end up with more cutting edge, a sleeker looking design and your fingers don’t have to wander out onto the blade easier to get cut. The top finger bump thingy seems a little high also.

The bottom chopper catches my eye for some reason. It is not a style of knife I would think of making but I could see it being useful in the kitchen for chopping stuff up. For this one the extra width seems appropriate.

A father-son set of knives is a really cool idea. These would be pretty special knives for years to come. What ever you make will be special because it will be made with the heart as well as the hands. Would you consider taking an introductory lesson in knife making BEFORE you make this special set of knives?

Think about beginning with a smaller, simple, plain vanilla design that will give you plenty of challenge and experience so that you will be better prepared to tackle more complicated designs. I recommend using 1/8” stock and making a blade not more than 4” in length, and less than an inch high (cutting edge to spine).

But when all is said and done you need to make the knife that YOU need to make, not what Paul thinks you should make. I just want to see you hooked on the heroin of knife making like the rest of us. ;-)

Paul Meske
 
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Ok, I have made a revision (only one so far) and was wondering what you guys thought about the changes I have made:

camper.png
 
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