No holds barred critique on my knives

TigerBlades said:
Ok, thank you. I definitely have more than files. Those are beautiful by the way. What grit did you take it up to?
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Sure thing you have more then files. I wrote that representative for any kind of excuse of why it "could not be possible" to make a clean knife. You can make clean knives with just a couple basic hand tools, the same is true for all sorts of different things.

The common grit is stop on user knives is 400, on some i go to 1500. 400 grit is the best for users IMO.
 
My TOP makers in resale value in our world:

Ron Appleton
Harumi Hirayama
Bob Kramer, MS
Ron Lake
Wolfgang Loerchner
Jurgen Steinau
Michael Walker

Harumi and Wolfgang CONTINUE to only use hand files for shaping.

Food for thought.

More critique? Study other's cell phone photos. You CAN do better there as well. See THIS thread in Bladeforums Gallery..
 
BladeMan said:
Sure thing you have more then files. I wrote that representative for any kind of excuse of why it "could not be possible" to make a clean knife. You can make clean knives with just a couple basic hand tools, the same is true for all sorts of different things.

The common grit is end on user knives is 400, on some i go to 1500. 400 grit is the best for users IMO.
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It is 100% possible to make a clean knife. People from the 1500's made beautiful swords with the tools they had. Sometimes I'm just stupid. One thing I learned, get the finish right before the handle. Then it will look way better.
 
SharpByCoop said:
My TOP makers in resale value in our world:

Ron Appleton
Harumi Hirayama
Bob Kramer, MS
Ron Lake
Wolfgang Loerchner
Jurgen Steinau
Michael Walker

Harumi and Wolfgang CONTINUE to only use hand files for shaping.

Food for thought.

More critique? Study other's cell phone photos. You CAN do better there as well. See THIS thread in Bladeforums Gallery..
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Files definitely work. Maybe mine are just worn down, but it took forever on my first knife. Maybe my name will be up there someday. You must remember I am very young to be making knives, especially only learning from the internet.
 
TigerBlades said:
You must remember I am very young to be making knives, especially only learning from the internet.
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So.... how young is VERY young? I have photographed many INCREDIBLE makers under age 19, and my son won his first of several cell phone photo contests when he was 15.
 
All right, here's what I'd do iff'n I was you.

Get ahold of an old pedal grinder. They look something like this:

04eDnOC.jpg


You're in Oregon, so those things are all over the place.

The large wheel turns slowly but can shape steel pretty quickly and safely. You can shape all kinds of knives on that, quietly and without even needing electricity. None of this sissy 2x72 malarkey.

Now the hogs ain't gonna slop themselves, and the tractor needs fresh blinker fluid, so go on now, GIT!
 
15 and already getting some learning done with hand forging blades! My mother would have lost her dang mind if she saw me playing with a forge (though I was one of "those" kids) 😂


I 100% second the idea of getting a cheap little 1x30 belt grinder (or pedal grinder), but more importantly I think you should continue coming to this forum. I started out almost twice as old as you, but my knives started out exactly the same. In the short time I have been on these forums, my work has gotten steadily better thanks to the large number of super helpful pro's on here.

Just keep working on your blades and make sure each new one is a little better than the last. In no time you will be on here teaching other's how to do it.
 
SharpByCoop said:
So.... how young is VERY young? I have photographed many INCREDIBLE makers under age 19, and my son won his first of several cell phone photo contests when he was 15.
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I'm learning to drive. I'm pretty sure it says on my profile. Anyways, age is not an excuse for anything, just my slight stupidity sometimes.
 
scarysamcary said:
15 and already getting some learning done with hand forging blades! My mother would have lost her dang mind if she saw me playing with a forge (though I was one of "those" kids) 😂


I 100% second the idea of getting a cheap little 1x30 belt grinder (or pedal grinder), but more importantly I think you should continue coming to this forum. I started out almost twice as old as you, but my knives started out exactly the same. In the short time I have been on these forums, my work has gotten steadily better thanks to the large number of super helpful pro's on here.

Just keep working on your blades and make sure each new one is a little better than the last. In no time you will be on here teaching other's how to do it.
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Obviously my mother supports my blademaking, but yeah she is terrified. Those pedal grinders sound cool, especially since they don't require electricity. Bushcraft Knifemaking?
 
TigerBlades said:
Obviously my mother supports my blademaking, but yeah she is terrified. Those pedal grinders sound cool, especially since they don't require electricity. Bushcraft Knifemaking?
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Once you get some time on the pedal grinder, you can upgrade to a bigger version.

jMFlskG.jpg
 
BladeMan said:
Sure thing you have more then files. I wrote that representative for any kind of excuse of why it "could not be possible" to make a clean knife. You can make clean knives with just a couple basic hand tools, the same is true for all sorts of different things.

The common grit is stop on user knives is 400, on some i go to 1500. 400 grit is the best for users IMO.
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Also, why are files better? I know they are precise but if I try I can get pretty beautiful bevels with my worksharp and forge.
 
TigerBlades said:
What makes them better than a traditional belt sander or other kind of abrasive?
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TigerBlades said:
Also, why are files better? I know they are precise but if I try I can get pretty beautiful bevels with my worksharp and forge.
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-It's way better and faster than files or a worksharp
-You don't have to spend a bunch of money on abrasive belts and machinery
-It doesn't heat up the blade too quickly
-It offers lots of control for shaping the blade
-It will get you good at controlling the shaping with your hands
-Great for wet grinding
-Safe to use compared to high-RPM power equipment
-Looks cool
-Can probably find one pretty cheap
-Can make it powered by a simple motor when you get annoyed with pedaling
 
Mecha said:
-It's way better and faster than files or a worksharp
-You don't have to spend a bunch of money on abrasive belts and machinery
-It doesn't heat up the blade too quickly
-It offers lots of control for shaping the blade
-It will get you good at controlling the shaping with your hands
-Great for wet grinding
-Safe to use compared to high-RPM power equipment
-Looks cool
-Can probably find one pretty cheap
-Can make it powered by a simple motor when you get annoyed with pedaling
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What is the wheel made of? Also, are they replaceable and interchangeable in grit?
 
TigerBlades said:
What is the wheel made of? Also, are they replaceable and interchangeable in grit?
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It's just a huge round grinding stone that lasts a really long time. They do exist in different grits, but I wouldn't worry about that and use a coarse grinding stone and finish the ground blade with some sandpaper.

All I'm saying is, if I was in your shoes, that's what I would get right now.
 
TigerBlades said:
I'm learning to drive. I'm pretty sure it says on my profile. Anyways, age is not an excuse for anything, just my slight stupidity sometimes.
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I wish I had half as much common sense at 15. Keep at it. I think what you've made so far looks functionally fine if a bit unpolished. Polish comes with practice so don't give up. At least you aren't on here saying you're making some sword that only exists in anime without a lick of how to go about it.
My only advice would be to make sure and stick to your schoolwork too, there are tons of guys with a nice side gig making really good knives and making some decent cash doing it but the guys doing it as their only form of income aren't anywhere near as prevalent. Better to be a well to do accountant or whatever with a nice house and fun workshop than to be holding a "will work for steel" sign and living in a cardboard box. ;)
 
Mecha said:
It's just a huge round grinding stone that lasts a really long time. They do exist in different grits, but I wouldn't worry about that and use a coarse grinding stone and finish the ground blade with some sandpaper.

All I'm saying is, if I was in your shoes, that's what I would get right now.
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I'd love to find a smaller set up like the one you posted just to have around for axes and machetes. I can imagine that would put a great edge on a lawnmower blade too.
 
TigerBlades said:
Ooh, that's not painful. Anyways, I agree with the design, needs to be planned out.
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you asked for honesty, and that's a great first step. It's important to accept feedback especially at the stage you're at.

As an old man, it could be argued that it's easier achieve a better outcome with less hands on experience- I'm pretty sure that's referred to as 'wisdom', (and some disposable income to buy tools and have a place to use them). That said, there are plenty of old men making not great knives, and selling them. There is a growing number of quite young people greatly surpassing their older peers. One in particular that stands out right now is Jordan LaMothe, that kid is killing it. There's a local kid T Triple Stripe Knives who is making a solid go of it. So many young people!

point being, age has nothing to do with it, other than when you're young you can work harder and when you're old, you can work smarter. Of course that is a gross generalization and you shouldn't take it to mean that that's the way it is. Every person has a relatively unique position, which is as meaningful or not as any other. What and how one chooses to optimize things is less relevant that the act of optimizing things. Which means to me that doing things better with each new experience is a worthy and sustainable goal.

it's good to be proud of your work, and I suggest, (because I've heard it from people smarter than me) that one should pay to make their first knives, ie; not take money for them. Consider it tuition. Whether that's your first 100 or your first 2 depends on how badly you want to improve. I'd suggest that those who prioritize improving end up being those who not only keep doing it, but who are able to maybe enter the upper echelon.
 
Was going to suggest you need more than one belt, but you mentioned you don't have a belt grinder

This one is on Amazon for $140. Chinese made, but could be a good practice tool. 1.2" belt size

71B-b+dtWML._AC_SS450_.jpg


I don't make knives, so take my reply for what it's worth

DON
 
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