Questions for knife makers

C

cerisdevoi

Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
33
This is mainly for some of the smaller, 1 man, backyard knife makers. I have been coming accross a lot of small, but amazing knife makers on instagram. And I've been toying with the idea of setting up a little shop on my property to combine my 2 favorite things, not annoying my wife, and knives. Probably not for sale or production, just for me and friends and family.

So the question: what would I be looking at (ball park) to get set up to make knives (Fixed and maybe folders). Grinders, etc.
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...reads-All-The-Good-Info-You-Want-In-One-Place

There is a TON of good information in that link. I know it's tempting to just come out and ask what all you need to get started but I'd advise you in trying to dig into the info yourself. I'm not saying this to be a jerk, please don't take it that way(lord knows I've asked a ton of questions here). If you dig for the info yourself it will help you in locating places where you can find more similar info in the future. It's a little harder work but that can be a good thing. Knifemaking is hard work. The more you come to grasp with just how difficult it will be the sooner you will know if it's for you or not.

It's very expensive to become a knife maker. Sure you can make knives with files but once you understand the process you WILL want more capable machinery. I think you're coming at this the right way by not aiming to be a knife seller. A lot of newer guys come into this with goals of becoming a successful knifemaker before even honing their ability to the point were someone would buy their work. So cheers on that.

In terms of getting started I wold recommend that you pile as much information into your head as possible. Watch Nick Wheeler and Aaron Gough's videos on youtube. Read read read. Look around your area and see if there are any local bladesmiths that would let you check out their shop and pick their brain.

As far as a ballpark figure on start up equipment it really depends on how you want to go about it. You can buy lower end equipment and get the job done but it can be tough as it isn't made for knife making and can result in shit product. If you go half-assed into it like I did and spend a couple hundred on a Craftsman 2x42 you'll likely wish you had saved longer and got a purpose built grinder. If you wanted to get into it with minimal investment I'd advise that you get a good set of files and build one of Aaron Gough's file jigs. Get a good vise, sand paper, drill press, and a hack saw. That way if you DO decide you want to go balls deep into knifemaking later you won't have wasted money on insufficient tools. Files, sand paper, and a vise are all tools that will be necessary in advanced knifemaking. You could get a cheapo Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander but don't expect a lot out of it. If you upgraded later you could always re-purpose it as an outdoor grinder for rough grinding nasty shit like carbon fiber, G10, micarta, etc... That's what I've done with my Craftsman 2x42.

Look on Craigslist and go to estate sales for tool/machinery. A lot of good finds to be had out there.
 
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Simple answer, not a lot. But like any addiction, it grows with time. Kinda like my reloading setup, started with a hand held lyman loader, now have 4 presses, two star sizers and more moulds than I can count.

Big help is to get a copy of Wayne Godard's 50$ knife shop, show easy and cheap ways to get started and has a lot of helpful hints as well.
 
Will52100 said:
Simple answer, not a lot. But like any addiction, it grows with time. Kinda like my reloading setup, started with a hand held lyman loader, now have 4 presses, two star sizers and more moulds than I can count.

Big help is to get a copy of Wayne Godard's 50$ knife shop, show easy and cheap ways to get started and has a lot of helpful hints as well.
Click to expand...

Haha TRUTH! You just reminded me, I need to get some PVC to make bullet feeding tubes for my Star auto feeder.
 
Fixed and folders. Between 5-10 thousand maybe more
if you want to throw in a mill and surface grinder.
 
I'm over 20k in the hole and I've only completed 10 knives so far. I have a couple of pieces of good equipment like the grinder and heat treat oven which accounts for 6 of the 20. The rest of the equipment is budget stuff. But I don't think the equipment is where the money went. The little things add up very fast. Abrasives, handle materials, steel, adhesives, assorted little tools, books, leather and associated supplies, lighting, and more. It literally is endless. But as has been said, if you are determined, a very nice knife can be made very inexpensively. Nick and Aaron's videos are very good. I also recommend you watch Walter Sorrell's videos.
 
Marcs right probably closer to 20.Much of this stuff i already had. Hell just replacing my
benches would close to 3 grand.Yikes... Calling insurance agent first thing Monday.
 
It depends on what you have available now? Would you like to do stock removal or forge your knives? Do you have shop space? How much time do you want to spend on each knife blade? Do you want to spend time getting used equipment or do you want to start with new equipment?
 
To be efficient at all I would reccomend a 2x72 grinder with a tool arm. I consider the three speed kmg an option that you will not outgrow or really wish you went more expensive. $1500

I still use my cheapo drill press and it does all I really need: $150

Safety: Decent respirator and safety glasses: $50

Consumables: belts, sand paper, bar stock drill bits ect: $100 to start.

That what I consider the essentials list for stock removal knife making and farming out heat treat.

If you want to add in forging, you are going to need an anvil (does not have to be a traditional one) and a forge.

The sky is the limit from there as far as cost.
 
I haven't owned any super expensive knives ($800 for a mid-tech/most expensive) but my single fixed blade that I made was pretty expensive and I have zero "good" equipment. Good news is that I have enough 1095, 1084 and o1 to make plenty more (should I ever find the time). The 1084 I have successfully ht'd myself, the rest will need sent out. I've never added up what I've spent but it's probably nearing the price of the mid-tech. Most is in consumables like others have mentioned. I'm not counting leather working equipment.
 
Even if you go all in(grinder, saw, drill press, oven, misc tools) this hobby is still a lot cheaper
than many other.It's one were you could eventually make a few bucks. My other hobby costs
me more yearly, to put in perspective.
 
Truly budget yet machine powered and useable for other tasks:
1x30"/1x42"/4x36" grinders with disc attachment (underpowered, but good enough if you have patience, useable around the house, and not expensive- most of mine were done on the 4x36- it can be done)
Good belts for the machine!
Drill press and good drill bits
Good files- learn how to properly use them if you don't already know- I was never taught, especially draw filing.
Good wet dry sandpaper/vice grips/high tension hacksaw with numeral blades.
Go to a cabinetry or headstone business and see if they have guaged granite block pieces- I got a couple hand sized that way, and a larger slab and did not have to pay machinist prices (also got a good granite plate on sale after, functional knives can be made without one)- free and useful for flattening stock/handles, making sheaths.....)

Supplies:
Steel- most specialized ingredient so buy clean known steel
Pins- 1/8"&1/4" brass rod from dept stores
Glue- I use G2 epoxy because that was what a knifemaker first recommended to me, is local from Lee Valley, and I've had better luck with it than other systems like Acraglas!
Handle material- local hardwoods- cabinetry shop offcuts, exotic hardwood dealers, cabinetry shop off cuts for Corian/other synthetics.... This can be very budget, but just don't go for the $70 burl blocks on your first piece!
Leather/kydex- heat gun and tin snips will make a workable kydex sheath, leather "sinew"/glue/sealant will make workable leather sheath- can always expand into rivets/gum traganth/leather stamps after.

There is nothing wrong with going inexpensive and still useful tools while deciding if the hobby is for you. A drill press/small grinder is handy regardless, and small models can be found cheap second hand online. I Started this way (profiling blades with dremel cutoff discs before I learned hacksaw and drilled holes!)and after 20 or so knives I've upgraded some things and plan to on others, but I'm approaching this as a hobby not as a career (at least until retirement!), and I work at a glacial pace pay of the time. And this way if you hate knifemaking you aren't out a lot of money for specialized tools that you can only unload at a discount to a "lucky" new maker......
 
I made my first knife because I didn't want to spend more than $100 for a hunting knife with a high performance blade steel. That first knife ended up costing me well over $2000 due to tool expenses. Fortunately, I love buying and owning tools.

It can be done for much less, but to enjoy the work well enough to improve, it may easily cost this much to get going well.

Good luck,

Mike L.
 
Before jumping in find out if knife making is even for you. I like oil paintings but can't paint worth a damn. Look at Jantz or USAKnifemaker or one of the other vendors that sell kit blades. A blade, handle material, epoxy, hardware, coping saw, files, and a variety of wet dry sandpaper will get you started toward building your first knife without dropping $2000 in the blink of an eye. You can even get Russell Green River blanks for under $20. By assembling a kit you'll develop finishing skills that will be useful when you decide to take the next step to building your own.
 
As a hobbiest I placed knifemaking in the same category as my 35' fishing boat. If I ever sat down and figured all I had into it I couldn't enjoy it!
 
You can get going for a couple hundred bucks.
Files - a vise - 30$ hf grinder. Plus epoxy , blades and scales/ handles. And sandpaper.
Do stock removal and kit blades first.
That's where I am. On my 3 rd and 4 th knife in about 90 days.
After knife no 4 - I'm building a forge.

I like the woodworking side of it.
But my son really wants to learn to work the metal.
 
As previously suggested why don't you look at the Jantz Knife supply catalog online and buy a blade and some scale material, etc and try a couple simple knives. If you can finish a knife or two and they come out well you will have to decide if you want to grind your own blades. You can do it with files and sandpaper but you will probably want a 2x72 belt grinder. Save your pennies and pony up. If you like knife making you will probably get addicted and then you will have no mind of your own I did and I can tell you that I cannot take a week off without craving some time in the shop. It is an addiction much worse than crack or heroin except that you feel a great high every time you make a nice knife. I have heard many knife makers say that they "cannot not make knives". First thing is to read the stickies on this forum and buy maybe buy a video . The one that hooked me was the Steven R Johnson video called Making The Subhilt Fighter . It is very long and detailed but shows what a guy can do with practice and effort. My first book was The $50 Knife Shop I think it was called but honestly after reading the book I wanted to buy a 2x72 belt grinder and start grinding blades instead of using files and paper to make knives. Good luck! Larry
 
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