Newbie Question

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Nocks33

Joined
Dec 2, 2015
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Hey guys I'm sorry if this is in the wrong section of the forum.. I've read the stickies on new knife maker advice, but figured I'd ask this question l as I didn't see it on the information I've read.

I'm looking at a bare bones basic approach to this as a hobby. What equipment would y'all absolutely recommend buying first. Obviously I don't have a unlimited budget but I'm just trying to get an idea of what I'll need to get started. My first thought was a Bench Vise probably going to go with a clamp on one. I'm getting a pre treated knife kit to start just dip my toes into this. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Also required: a good solid work surface, I know it is obvious but the more "solid" the better, especially when filing and sanding. If you are going to drill holes in the handle material and use the knife blank as a guide, be especially careful to secure knife blank when drilling on a drill press.
 
I think it's Aron Gough that has a great tutorial on how to make a file guide. I started with files and am grateful that I did. Things happen slowly with files and you see things develop. If you enjoy the process and move on to a grinder you will benefit from having seen the development slowly. Things can happen very quickly with a grinder. Knowing where you are going and want to end up, and where the fine lines are between just right and too far will be helpful.
 
1/8" steel max. Make a 3" blade, not a machete. 1084 steel is a good choice, expspecially if you want to heat treat it yourself in a coffee can or 2 brick forge.

Making knives is a lot of fun. Get a couple good files, pferd, American Nicholson, and grobet are good names to look for. A high tension hacksaw is needed. A set of twist drills is needed, and they double as centre marking tools for edges. For handle scales, maple is probably the most economic wood and is available at any hardware store. Samples from the hardwood floor section are economical as well. Walnut, tiger wood, Padauk, and zebra wood are dense enough to be used without stabilization, and look great. Cheap pins for handles are brazing rod. One place where you can't go cheap is sandpaper. Go to an auto parts store, and get 3m or Norton wet or dry paper. If you have a Lee Valkey in your town, they have a good selection as well, and good files. Lee Valley also sells high quality Danish oil, and Tru oil, both great for handle finishing.

A c-clamp to hold the knife against a table or board will be more useful than a vice when starting out.

Fill out your profile. Local makers are eager to help out.
 
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I would not start off with a pre heat-treated knife kit. If it were me, I would buy a piece of 1.5"x1/8"x18" O1 off Amazon. I'd also get a magicut file, and a round file. If you can get a little angle grinder, it will make it even easier. Those and a C-clamp should get you through rough shaping.

You can find pretty simple small forge ideas on youtube, a few bricks and a hair drier work for bare bones stuff. Temper in your oven/toaster oven.

After that, you're going to have to finish with draw filing and hand sanding (buy good sandpaper 120/220/400/600) and find epoxy that has "extended set time"

I like Trollsky's VIDEO
 
The less you start with... the quicker you develop...
50$ Knife Book... Thats what i started with! Good Luck!!
 
The guided file thing does work, its how I made my first knife. However, in my opinion, draw/push filing with a magicut removes material way faster, and more cleanly. Really you're going to have to experiment , and find what you like.
 
some of the best tools you can get are books. A few I can recommend which I have learned a lot from the study of edges is "the razor edge book of sharpening" And "step by step knife making" These are two excellent books. Once picked up I could not put them back down and finished both in the same day. I'm reading the razor edge for a second time.

there is an excellent stickie up here with a lot of good information that has steered me into good directions. I suggest you also take a look at them.

I am far from being an expert or knife maker. A new guy on the block like yourself but I've learned a lot from the titles mentioned above.
 
A decent drill press will never go unused in almost any shop. It can also be used for more than just drilling holes, though care should be taken for any process that requires much side loading of the quill.
Check the local want ads for some good deals, but make sure you know what you're getting.

Files and sandpaper are always useful. Buy quality.

Basic hand tools like hammers, punches, drivers, hacksaws, etc.. should not be overlooked.
 
Oh, and while a nice bench vise is certainly useful, lot can be done with just a couple of c-clamps and a sturdy table. Clamping to the edge of a 2x4 or similar can also be advantageous.
 
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