Please help a newbie out!

N

nbellowe

Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
16
Hi! I am just about to start building my very first knife, and would love to get some help on where to buy materials. My main problem is that I have no idea where to get steel of good enough quality that you can make a decent knife out of, but that you can still hand-file down, and sand, and stuff. If it matters, I will post my design up here too! Thanks! Also, here is a list of stuff I think I will need, (let me know if I missed anything)

* Steel
* File
* Sandpaper, fine grit, and rough
* oak/ nice wood
* Drill
* Hacksaw
* patience
* time
 
I would recommend spending some time reading the stickies at the top of this forum. Good advice there from top makers. Get a few books on knifemaking, and you can get these and your steel at Texas knifemakers supply.
 
You're gonna NEED at least 2, 5 gal. buckets of ellbow greese.
By the way, That sandpaper should be--220, 320 500, 800,and 1000.
good luck, Jerry
 
Go online and download the catalogs from several knife supply companies. They sell knife steel in short pieces. A good first steel is 1080 for carbon steel, and CPM154 for stainless steel. Order the paper catalogs and flip through them , as there is a lot of good info tucked among the pages of many catalogs. They make fun wish shopping,too.

http://www.jantzsupply.com/
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php
http://www.knifeandgun.com/
http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/
http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/request_a_catalog.html

Take your time and plan this project. It isn't an overnight thing, and the results will be far better if planning and lots of work are applied.

Please fill out your profile so we know a bit about you and where you are. Someone on this forum could be in the same town.

I just posted a tutorial on hand making a first knife, so check it out for guidance.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7533622

There are lots of tutorials on many knife making subjects online, too.
http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/instructionallinks.htm
http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/multipletutorials.htm
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/multipletutorials.htm

Ask questions - If you are unsure, ASK. (The folks here are bored and looking for people to help - sometimes they even give good advise!). Seriously, asking about something you are planning on doing can save a lot of heartache.

If you want to search for a thread about something on this forum, use this engine:
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

Stacy
 
I just wanted to say that you guys are by far the best, quickest responding, and most helpful forum I have ever been a part of. Thanks so much for your help!
 
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