Want to get started!

D

detroitarms

Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
3
I would like to get into knife making, and was wondering how to get into it. I dont have a belt sander so I don't believe I can work with blanks or bar stock. I do believe I'll need to start with kits, if anyone can point me in a direction that would be great.

Thanks,
Andy Germann
 
Andy,

Welcome to Bladeforums. A good place to start is right here! There is a wealth of information that is freely shared on this forum, and most questions you can have have already been addressed.

The first place to look is at the top of the Shop Talk forum where it says: "Newbies, good info here." There are some great tutorials and hours worth of reading on knife making related topics. Many answers can be found right there.

Another good option for specific questions is to use google to search the boards. Type in:

shoptalk site:bladeforums.com query

and replace the word query with your search or question.

Also, a few pages deep in this forum, there should be a thread asking about good knife making books. If you look through the last several weeks, you should find that thread.

If you're interested in kits, KnifeKits or Texas Knifemakers Supply are good places to look for kits with everything you need to get going. Also, don't be afraid to use the good ole hacksaw, drill, and files to get it done. There are some excellent quality knives being made on these boards with just those basic tools.

And as always, if you have any questions, ask away!

Good luck, and have fun!

--Nathan
 
Thanks for the quick replies, I also was wondering tho, is the steel that the knife kits are made of, quality steel? Aus8, 8A Stainless, 440C?
 
Ray, that's a great site, that I never knew of. Thanks for the heads up yo!
 
you can work with bar stock, you just need some hand files, a hack saw, and some c-clamps. You can get started with about $30 -40 in costs. It just takes a lot of elbow grease and patience.
 
A good read is "The $50 knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard. He shows you how to get started on a limited budget. Another option is to buy blanks from http://www.greatlakeswaterjetinc.com . David is a cool guy and puts out good blanks at a good price....you will however have to put your own edge on them which would require a set of files and some sandpaper. Good luck and welcome to the addiction!
 
also...forgot to mention, there are companies you can send your rough blank to in order to get it heat treated if you dont have the means to do that. And if you decide you like it you can look up plans to fabricate your own shop equipment.
 
detroitarms said:
I would like to get into knife making, and was wondering how to get into it. I dont have a belt sander so I don't believe I can work with blanks or bar stock. I do believe I'll need to start with kits, if anyone can point me in a direction that would be great.

Thanks,
Andy Germann
Click to expand...

would be to fix up or mod an old seen better days knife, thats what i did and it gave me a new appreciation for what the guys on here can do with a blade.
My experience was both rewarding and frustrating:) and i brought a knife back from the dead. Just a thought
Texas Knifemakers are a great business and have many many patterns to choose from if you decide the kit knife is the way to go.
Whatever you decide to do post us some picts when you can:D
welcome to blade forums!
cheers
ivan
 
If you stick with Knife Kits or Texas Knife Supply, the blanks are almost assuredly high quality stock. The steel should be listed at those sites with the listing.

--nathan
 
The bar stock isnt too terrible to work with if its in its annealed state (it usually is when u buy it) a drill will cut down the amount u have to cut with the hacksaw, and if u start with simple carbon steel the Heat treating process is not too difficult and really fun (proly my favorite part other than forging). files are defiantly a good investment, c clamps are also a must.
 
I stumbled across Rob's store, www.knifemaker.ca, so if you're a Canuck and want to get started he has lots of good stuff. If'n yer an American, ya'll could make use a that burly dollar for some great deals!
 
I am working on my 5th knife right now, and the only power tool I have is a drill.:D

Check out the "Absolute Cheapskate way to make a knife" tutorial.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top