One Piece of Advice...

[SecondGenSmith]

Thanks for the advice, everyone!! It's much appreciated! I'll hopefully have some pictures up of some of my projects soon!

 

[Brock Cutlery]

All this advice should be put into the "20 or so commandments for new knife makers"
This is good stuff.

 

[aikiyoda]

You'll be tempted to make things "good enough". You'll be tempted to leave the last few scratches, leave the edge a bit thicker than you want it, ignore when your HT didn't go quite as well as you wanted etc.

You need to decide for yourself what sort of knife maker you want to be. Each time you get the urge to leave it at "good enough" ask yourself again what sort of knife maker you want to be and is good enough, good enough for you...

 

[Stromberg Knives]

I'm a beginner and I make mistakes all the time. But I really try to learn from them. For me it works best if I write down what lessons I've learnt.

Then I read it every now and then so I at least don't make the same mistake twice.

 

[Frank Niro]

Don't ever believe your work is "good enough" but always be trying to improve.
Frank

 

[silver_pilate]

To second Frank, "good enough" isn't.

--nathan

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Don't do anything before you have to.

 

[Ninja Blacksmith]

When somebody tells me they want to get into the trade, I always open with "Start small, and start with simple high carbon."

 

[stezann]

Javand is right!! It's hard to bite the bullet, it is painful to start over, but it is always worth and it will make you a better maker

Build in such a way that any single piece of a knife that's a failure, doesn't ruin the knife. Don't hesitate to remake a part if it's not right.


It took me years to get over the "can't stand to start over" syndrome. I'm a perfectionist to a fault. Once I started making pocket knives I had to get over that shit. If any single piece isn't right, I'll make it over, or a third, and so on. I've had numerous pieces where I'd ruin a blade on a knife with finished body, with incredible ivory scales, where I'd simply have to make a new blade and fit it to the existing body. With a slipjoint, this isn't always easy, but you can't hesitate, just do it.


I can't recall the last complete "failure" I had, because I'll remake any component if I have to, until it's right.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Draw it full size on paper first. Use a ruler if needed to keep the parts in scale with each other. Post the drawings or show them to some experienced makers who can spot things that may be off, and can make some suggestions. DON'T mark or cut steel until you are 100% happy with the paper drawing. Use it to compare the knife as you progress in the shaping of the steel.

Part of this procedure is to keep things equally scaled to each other. A too large/long/wide/thick guard will make the handle and blade look off. A too fat handle or too deep finger grooves can make the blade look funny. A too long or steep clip can look odd. Conversely, when these features all match the knife size and style properly, the whole package POPS!

Tip:
Many folks make a full size copy of the sketch and glue it to the steel for cutting and the basic shaping steps. That pretty much assures the blank will be the same as you planned.
Tip #2:
Too much embellishment can detract from a nice knife. A little goes a long way in adding attractiveness. I wish more young ladies knew this when putting on makeup and clothes.

 

[SVanderkolff]

Remember why you started making knives.
If it stops being fun, stops being where you want to be, then you are doing something wrong.
If this is your passion then let your passion be your guide.
Remember to thank you wife.
Steve