re-learning knife making

steelshaper

steelshaper

Joined
Jun 14, 2007
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I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this. I started bladesmithing when I was 14 and up until this year (I'm 29 now) taught myself. I started finding lots of help like this web site but it seems I do everything wrong. Until a month ago all my knives had a convex grind I used saw blades and springs for steel (unknown steel?) and 2 belt sanders from Lowes. I forged my knives with boiler coal in a old forge my grandfather left me.

A couple months ago I got a 2x72 belt grinder a new anvil a gas forge and some 01 steel. I have been trying to flat grind and feel very hopeless. Since starting over nothing I have made looks or works nearly as good as the knives I made before the new tools and steel. Some of my previous work can be seen at my website crumpsforge.com

Comments and sarcasm welcome William Crump
 
Tim Zowada is just 10 miles or so away from you. He is a most excellent and capable teacher. Google "Zowada Knives".
 
My belt grinder is a grizzly. I know its not the best but it seems to work ok. Part of the problem is it removes material so much faster. The other thing is I cant get enugh tension on the slack to grind convex the same way I did on my little 1x30. I am now trying to flat grind.

Tim has told me I could stop by and I plan to do so soon. I know Delbert Ealy lives fairly close to so I hope to get to know him as well.

I have been doing this far to long to give up now. I think part of my problem is having done things my way for to long.

Thanks all William Crump
 
Don't get discouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got started with this stuff at 14 as well.... and ironically enough am 29 now too! lol :)

I made a handful of knives with hacksaw, files, etc. by the time I was 18. I was quite happy with these.

I bought a crap-load of equipment when I graduated high school. A variable speed Burr King, a Baldor buffer, metal bandsaw, LOTS of hand-tools... Imagine my surprise when I found out I couldn't make a knife with this stuff to save my life!!!

I bought one of those "hollow grinding made easy" jigs, and made about 12 knives I really liked. But then I realized it was limiting me and I set it aside. Again, I couldn't make a knife for anything!

Finally I started getting a handle on this stuff and decided to go into forging! Again, I couldn't make anything I wanted.

I've been doing this stuff now for 15 years (off and on for the first 9 and all-out for about 6), and I finally feel like I can make stuff that's ME, and does what I WANT it to, and not just what I finished up with.

Keep your head up!!! :thumbup: :D
 
if it makes you feel better I seem to screw up every possible aspect to knife making... but what I take from it is that I am ;earning the best possible lessons from first hand experience!

Lang
 
I did not want to sound winey but I wish I would have found help sooner. There are lots of people (as this site is proof of) that are happy to help. I am sure my knives would be much nicer and I would not have gone through years of failure if I would have found Delbert or Tim sooner.

I posted this thread to see how many people have gone the hard road like I have.

Thanks! this site is great. William Crump
 
Listen to what Nick has to say. He makes a darned fine knife (and that's really an understatement....). Being near to Del and Tim will be a huge help I'm sure. They are both very accomplished makers and great guys to boot.

You'll be flat grinding in no time ;) It's actually a lot harder than convex grinding, but once you "get" the feel for it it's not that hard.

Good luck and post pictures of your work!

-d
 
I am firmly convinced that making knives is a journey into how to recover from errors. Often the maker is the only person that knows where the error is but they are alway there. So just keep on keeping on!
 
steelshaper said:
My belt grinder is a grizzly. I know its not the best but it seems to work ok. Part of the problem is it removes material so much faster. The other thing is I cant get enugh tension on the slack to grind convex the same way I did on my little 1x30. I am now trying to flat grind.

Tim has told me I could stop by and I plan to do so soon. I know Delbert Ealy lives fairly close to so I hope to get to know him as well.

I have been doing this far to long to give up now. I think part of my problem is having done things my way for to long.

Thanks all William Crump
Click to expand...

Here's my tip, modify your rest. I used a Grizzly for a little over one year before I killed it trying to grind a bowie. I think it was a combination of dust entering the motor (try to grind in a well ventilated place, eg. outdoors) and me forcing a 2+ inch wide bowie into the platen and stalling the motor out. (I finally finished grinding it, there's a pic below).

Anyway, make sure the rest is perfectly perpendicular and horizontal to the platen, I use one of those digital angle readers. This ensures that the ricasso is symmetrical on both sides. Next, make the rest longer, so you drag the blade across the platen without it falling off the rest. (steps 1 and 2 can be combined using shims). Then, attach a piece of angle iron to the back of the blade with a clamp and make sure it extends past the tip, prevents you screwing up the tip when you reach it as it gives you something to hold on to and prevents your fingers being burnt when grinding. Also, use good sharp belts, Norton Blaze belts in 50 grit work wonders on big knives.

I've only been grinding knives for 3 years on and off (total time is probably 6 months), and here's something I've been working on lately (I'm using a Coote now, already killed another motor, but I got the 1HP version from Harbor Freight with the 2 year warranty, so they gave me another one :D ). It's flat ground and then finished off with a full convex edge after heat treat. This sucker's 5/16" thick.

DSC00766.jpg


Hope this helps. :thumbup:
 
NickWheeler said:
Don't get discouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got started with this stuff at 14 as well.... and ironically enough am 29 now too! lol :)

I made a handful of knives with hacksaw, files, etc. by the time I was 18. I was quite happy with these.

I bought a crap-load of equipment when I graduated high school. A variable speed Burr King, a Baldor buffer, metal bandsaw, LOTS of hand-tools... Imagine my surprise when I found out I couldn't make a knife with this stuff to save my life!!!

I bought one of those "hollow grinding made easy" jigs, and made about 12 knives I really liked. But then I realized it was limiting me and I set it aside. Again, I couldn't make a knife for anything!

Finally I started getting a handle on this stuff and decided to go into forging! Again, I couldn't make anything I wanted.

I've been doing this stuff now for 15 years (off and on for the first 9 and all-out for about 6), and I finally feel like I can make stuff that's ME, and does what I WANT it to, and not just what I finished up with.

Keep your head up!!! :thumbup: :D
Click to expand...

It's nice to hear someone so accomplished be so humble :thumbup:

This is why I stick with it.
 
Joe has a good point....listen to Nick's advise.
I am a "stock removal" maker....do mostly slipjoints....but listen to Nick...even though he is younger than my youngest child (smile)......
Joe, I had family that was union ironworker.....good folks....I "ain't " gonna go up there...even for a good living........but have respect for those who do......
 
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