Starting out, books, tools etc...

E

EightTrack

Joined
Mar 28, 2004
Messages
24
Hey guys,

A little background info first, I'm a carpenter by trade and my father owns and operates a woodwork shop. I am interested in starting out in knifemaking, and am fortunate enough to have access to all kinds of tools and a full shop. Aswell my father has some experience grinding his own shaper knives for woodwork.

So first of all, can somebody please suggest a few of the better books for starting out, and where I can order them? Maybe some websites?

Second, what are my main tools? I've got angle grinders, table mounted grinders, belt grinders, drill press etc..... What do you use to do your rough shape? Are files to soft to handle hardened steel? Are water cooled tools needed?

Next, heat treating, can it be done without expensive machines? Is there places where it can be done at a small cost?

Sorry for the novel, so many questions. Which is why finding a good book is my number one priority. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
 
read Wayne Goddard's "$50 knife shop" or something like that, i can't remember the exact title at the moment, but i do know that it is available from Amazon.com

depending on the specs of your table mounted grinder, it'll probably be what you'll be using most, followed by the drill press

Are files to soft to handle hardened steel?
Click to expand...
it depends on the type of steel and its hardness at the time, but for the most part you'll want to be working with annealed steel and harden it after the shaping and grinding is done.

Next, heat treating, can it be done without expensive machines? Is there places where it can be done at a small cost?
Click to expand...

simple coal or propane forges can be built at low cost, search on Google for a tutorial.
alternatively, you can send your blades away to be heat treated,
Texas Knife Supply's rates start at around $6 per blade i believe.

Paul Bos, widely considered the best in the industry, charges $14/blade and $70 for up to 20 blades. good luck.

Kenny
 
do you have sketches of the knife or knives you plan on making? What sort of style are you into? Id love to know. ;)

bye for now!

-------tiff------- ;)
 
Welcome to bladeforums balisong*gurl!

Did you know there is a forum just for balis? Click here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=721


EightTrack - personally, I got more information online than in the books. There were certainly entertaining and exciting to read, but to be completely honest...I learned more in one hour trying to make my first knife, than the 4-5 books I read beforehand.

Just my 0.02
 
Ok, thanks for the tips folks. I ordered 2 books at the local bookstore, the $50 knife shop, and the loveless book, both were recommended to me by several people.

I've got tons of ideas and sketches, from large fighters, to small skinners to job specific knives for work. I'm also an avid balisong enthuisiast and would love to try and make one, but that's a long time off I'm sure.

I've got lots of scrap steel for experimenting but I like to get a base of information to start with.
 
Thanks for welcoming me, im new to the forum, my cousin told me about it the other day and i couldnt wait to get in! Im sure ill learn a hell of a lot of stuff on here. All my friends think im nuts, this little chick playin with knives, they dont understand, its nice to know theres a whole bunch of other knife nuts out there too!!

Good luck with your knife eightrack!

-------tiff-------
 
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