No Money, But I want to Make knives

[Will52100]

I do have a forge that I built myself, but one needs much more than that to build knives

Not really. I just watched a youtube video of a guy forging a damascus sword on a chunk of rail road track. Read Wayne Goddard's 50$ knife shop, lots of good ideas on how to get started cheap. Depending where you live, you might find flea markets and junk sales a good source of materials like files and such. Truth is, forging is probably the easiest way machinery wise to make a good usable knife. The closer you forge to shape the less filing you have to do, and the easier it is to clean up. There are Kukri knives made with little more than a hole dug in the ground for the forge, a sledge hammer half buried in the ground for an anvil, a couple of hammers, some stones and files. Neo tribal knife makers come to mind as well, like Tai Goo who don't use power tools at all.

The thing is, the belt grinders and power hammers and such are nice, but all they are is time savers, and in some cases you can screw up faster. Make a few with the bare essentials and if you can do that then you can move up as money allows.

 

[wolfeknives]

You do NOT need much equipment to make a very decent knife. You do need determination, and hopefully some passion.
The knives below were made in my $30 workshop. I purchased some files, a flea market hand held drill and a hacksaw. For holding parts I found an old and very cheap vise. Using a minimum of equipment will teach you much.

Wolfe

 

[Don Hanson III]

You do NOT need much equipment to make a very decent knife. You do need determination, and hopefully some passion.
The knives below were made in my $30 workshop. I purchased some files, a flea market hand held drill and a hacksaw. For holding parts I found an old and very cheap vise. Using a minimum of equipment will teach you much.

Wolfe

Well, there ya go. All ya need to make world class knives. Wolfe, you are The Man!

 

[hatchettjack]

You do NOT need much equipment to make a very decent knife. You do need determination, and hopefully some passion.
The knives below were made in my $30 workshop. I purchased some files, a flea market hand held drill and a hacksaw. For holding parts I found an old and very cheap vise. Using a minimum of equipment will teach you much.

Wolfe

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you are probably the exception, and not the rule! I about pass out looking at your work!

 

[wolfeknives]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say you are probably the exception, and not the rule! I about pass out looking at your work!

Yes, maybe an exception. But that is only because few new makers actually give this method a real chance. It is not for those who wish to make this an efficient or money making proposition. If you actually want to get payed for your time, you are really starting a small busyness. Starting any small busyness will take some start up funding. If you only make some knives for pleasure, it is a great way to start. The experience you gain from using hand tools will always be an asset. Though I have since added a bandsaw and a couple of drill presses to my shop, I still use the same methods. A very large assortment of files does make life much easier of course.

Wolfe

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

Yes, maybe an exception. But that is only because few new makers actually give this method a real chance. It is not for those who wish to make this an efficient or money making proposition. If you actually want to get payed for your time, you are really starting a small busyness. Starting any small busyness will take some start up funding. If you only make some knives for pleasure, it is a great way to start. The experience you gain from using hand tools will always be an asset. Though I have since added a bandsaw and a couple of drill presses to my shop, I still use the same methods. A very large assortment of files does make life much easier of course.

Wolfe

MUCH respect to you sir!

How do you finish grinding in your bevels post heat treat? Diamond files? Diamond stones?

Again, very nice work.

 

[wolfeknives]

MUCH respect to you sir!

How do you finish grinding in your bevels post heat treat? Diamond files? Diamond stones?

Again, very nice work.

I hand finish all my blades to 600 grit before heat treating. Finishing the blades only requires minor sanding to remove the film left by the heat treating process.

Wolfe

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I hand finish all my blades to 600 grit before heat treating. Finishing the blades only requires minor sanding to remove the film left by the heat treating process.

Wolfe

So how thick do you leave your edge before heat treat?

Sorry for the 20 questions, but I'm amazed at your work.

 

[wolfeknives]

So how thick do you leave your edge before heat treat?

Sorry for the 20 questions, but I'm amazed at your work.

I have never measured the thickness at the edge. I simply get it to the point where I can sharpen with a very small secondary bevel. I now make folding knives almost exclusively. The blades are small, and some carry extensive filework. If I had to reduce the grind by any amount post heat treating, the geometry of the file work would be compromised. Never had a problem with warping during heat treat.
Note, all work on the frame is done by hand, no grinder involved at any stage.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I have never measured the thickness at the edge. I simply get it to the point where I can sharpen with a very small secondary bevel. I now make folding knives almost exclusively. The blades are small, and some carry extensive filework. If I had to reduce the grind by any amount post heat treating, the geometry of the file work would be compromised. Never had a problem with warping during heat treat.
Note, all work on the frame is done by hand, no grinder involved at any stage.

Interesting. Thanks for the elaboration.

There you have it OP. You don't need a ton of equipment to do top notch work. Work work work and your skill level will increase and you can do amazing things. As Wolfe demonstrated above.

I could have a million dollars in equipment and not be able to do work like Wolfe. lol