Newbie... how do I get started

M

Markbo

Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
3
I am a hobbiest and tinkerer. I work on guns, stocks, leather, etc. I will try my hand at anything and here lately I got an itch to try my hand at making a knife or two. I doubt I will get seriously into it... a time factor thing. But I would like to try to make a couple and then try to make one really nice one.

How should I start? Should I start with a kit or what? I have basic home shop tools, but I don't have any high temp oven or any way (or want) to do blacksmith work.

I'd appreciate any advice at all
Thanks
Mark
 
You should start with Wayne Goddards "$50 Dollar Knife Shop" available at most Barnes and Knobles stores. Then read the stickies at the top of this forum, they will give you more than enough to ponder and everything you need to start cheap and easy. Then say goodbye to your savings and hello to addiction. I would skip kits and just start making knives unless handles are your main intrest.
 
You should put down where you live. If you live in my area I am have two new students coming over Saturday, you could join us.:D
 
A kit will give you an idea of how a knife goes together and will likely be a prettier end product than entirely hand made. If you want to go hand made you'll have to decide if you want to grind or forge. From your post I gather you'll want to grind which leaves you with the options of files and sand paper or grinder. There are a few basic books (since I forge I don't have recommendations for grinding) and a number of forums with starters information. Try a search.

ron
 
I second a kit knife. Look at the kits offered from Texas Knife Supply, or the fine kits from Darrel Ralph at www.knifekits.com .Darrel make a first class kit, everything included, and has a great site with lots of help and all.
Welcome to the BF.
Stacy
 
Markbo said:
How should I start?
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Don't start, it's a sickness. No sane person would invest the effort and $$$ to do this for mostly frustration and little satisfaction. Your time would be better used watching tv or playing video games.


Should I start with a kit or what?
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Start with a book, some will tell you Wayne goddards $50 knife shop or the Loveless/ Barney book, or even David Boyes book. I sugget a different book, How about Moby Dick by Herman Melville or perhaps Walden By Henry David Throeau


I have basic home shop tools, but I don't have any high temp oven or any way (or want) to do blacksmith work.
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You're lucky, The further you are away from being able to make knives the better. look at the tools needed, they are expensive! Your resistance to forging is a good sign. Those guys are really sick they have for all intents and purposes abandoned the 21st century.

I'd appreciate any advice at all
Thanks
Mark
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You have been warned, I can do no more except to say, Abandon Hope All Ye That Enter Here!
 
Ilovetoolsteel offers the best advise... steer clear away its addictive!!

Failing which, I have also found that http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/ is one of the best little intros of how to make a basic knife. I can relate cos I also consider myself a tinkerer who wants to be able to do everything.

Dont take Ilovetoolsteel too seriously though.... knifemaking CAN be expensive, but it CAN also be done on a low budget. The tradeoff is that you will then need considerably more patience
 
Thanks fellahs. I appreciate all the advice and the humor. I have some research and studying to do before I break steel.
 
Don't start, it's a sickness. No sane person would invest the effort and $$$ to do this for mostly frustration and little satisfaction. Your time would be better used watching tv or playing video games.
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Best advice yet....Runaway very fast, by knives from China:foot: :foot: :foot: :foot: :foot:

Hi Guys !
 
I have a different idea/approach to this desire...................

If you are interested in folders (aren't we all?) you could buy one (go into any antique shop or flea market if you want a few to mess around with and ask if they have any old knives on hand. They probably have a box them going for $1 to $5). Buy a couple in fact. Buy some band-aids too...........then take one apart to see how it works. Then...................put it back together again. Sharpen it, carry it and use it for awhile. Decide what you'd change about it to make it more useful in your daily endeavors. Thennnnnnn if you still wanna make a knife at that point it will, at least, be an INFORMED decision.

Assuming you decide to continue you can do so without spending a penny. Go to your library and see if they have any of the previously mentioned knifemaking books written by:

Wayne Goddard

Loveless/Barney

Bob Terzoula

Lake, Centofante and Clay

Eugene Shadley and Terry Davis

David Boye

Blade's Guide to Making Knives

etc............................

(in that order if possible)

Read whatever they have or can get for you.

Keep reading these forums, especially the newbie sub-forums.

Make a couple, probably straight knives, not folders yet, and see how it goes.

Kits are good too just more expensive.

Have fun..................

Syn
 
dont listen to anyone trying to dissuade you dude.. .just do it... its a very satisfying hobby.

Chinese knives rock!!!!! They are sold as 'disposables'.. right?
 
When i look at the tools i've purchased over the last 2 years building up a workshop for smithing and whatnot... I'd have been able to afford to commision several 1000$+ knives from master smiths and JSs , however... i have much more fun and wouldnt do it any other way.

Most of this forum is people dedicated entierly to knives, but once you have the workshop setup, there's nothing to stop you from doing a lot of other nice blacksmithing work. I just made this fireplace shovel (working on poker and broom tonight/tomorrow) this last week as part of a fireplace tool set for a friend.

http://www.tharkis.com/images/shovel.jpg

many of the basic skills you'll learn to forge blades can be applied to many other projects... and the patience you'll learn from /finishing/ blades will go a long ways towards making yourself easier to appreciate the good things in life =)
 
Ilovetoolsteel said:
SNIP

You're lucky, The further you are away from being able to make knives the better. look at the tools needed, they are expensive! Your resistance to forging is a good sign. Those guys are really sick they have for all intents and purposes abandoned the 21st century.

Snip
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I do NOT want to abandon the 21st century. I'm working on abandonning the 20th century.
 
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