What do I need to start making knives through stock removal?

C

Craig Cissel

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Jun 9, 2018
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6
Hey guys this is my first time posting on here and I have no idea how to go about making my first knife. I've watched a lot of youtube videos on the subject and I think it's finally time for me to dive in. I think stock removal would be the easiest way for me to go about it. I've looked on many different websites for the equipment I'd need to go about it seeing is I'm on a rather tight budget. What would I need to get started and how much would I expect to pay?
 
No doubt many experts will chime in. I made my first knife using some good quality Nicholson files, a piece of knife steel and a vice. I lived in a small apartment at the time.
It's slow and time consuming but very rewarding. I sent the finished knife for heat treating and then started on fitting some nice handles followed by hand sewing a nice leather pouch.
It certainly was not a work of art but it was my start and really enjoyed the process.
 
You pretty much start with some tools to remove the stock.

I've seen people use a band saw to cut the outline of the blade out of the bar stock, then use a big belt sander to form the grinds. You'll need a drill if you want to bolt or pin on handle scales. You'll need some way to heat treat, or send to someone else to do this for you. And lots of sandpaper for finishing.
If you're willing to make full flat grind knives you can make the grinds with files. I suppose you could form the outline of the blade with a bench grinder or angle grinder.
 
For your very first knife all you really need is an old USA Nicholson file, an angle grinder with vsrious attachments and a bucket of water.
 
I made my first knife using a hack saw, files, sandpaper, and hand drill with cobalt bits.
 
thanks guys! This was really encouraging! I know that heat treating is very dependent on the type of steel used. I think I would feel much more rewarded if I did the heat treat myself as opposed to sending it off (I know that'd probably be the cheaper option but I'd be willing to spend a little more in order to feel more rewarded in the end). Would there be certain steels that I could feasibly do a heat treat with just a propane torch or something of the like? Or would I need to look into making a forge for that.
 
Craig Cissel said:
thanks guys! This was really encouraging! I know that heat treating is very dependent on the type of steel used. I think I would feel much more rewarded if I did the heat treat myself as opposed to sending it off (I know that'd probably be the cheaper option but I'd be willing to spend a little more in order to feel more rewarded in the end). Would there be certain steels that I could feasibly do a heat treat with just a propane torch or something of the like? Or would I need to look into making a forge for that.
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1084, 1095, and 5160 are good starting steels. Use a known source (ie - store bought steel), and think small to medium sized blade for your first, that should be easy enough to do with a touch for a beginning maker.

Edit - 1095 might be a bit too much, skip it, and choose 1084.
 
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Two years ago, my step dad started talking about making knives. He talked about all this equipment he needed. In two years, he aquired an anvil, for free, just by talking to everyone about wanting to make knives. He has not acquired any other tools. He has yet to make a single knife, but talks about it everytime i talk to him.

I, like most others, started with a file and a strong will. I produced some very ugly knives, but over time i got the tools i needed to make what i wanted, and it has been a great experience.
 
Thanks again guys! I just bought some 1084 steel and some handle scales online :) I'm excited to see what I can do with them once I get home from college in about a week and a half. What files, angle grinder, hacksaw, and sandpaper would I need for the job? Is that something I can just to my local hardware store and inquire about? Also: since I'm going to be doing the heat treatment with a propane torch, what specs should I look for in one? would any old torch and canister do? Or are there specific ones made for the job. Thank you for all the replies everyone, you're really making diving into this hobby much more welcoming!
 
I think most prefer the nicholson double cut bastard file. As far as angle grinders, i would see if you can get a deal at a pawn shop. I got mine for $5. You can get a small angle grinder for $20 or so new, doesnt really matter the brand. I dont use a hack saw for anything but a coping saw is good for cutting scales to the tang profile. Sandpaper, i get it at harbor freight and i buy every package in every grit they have when i go. You will need sandpaper for metal (usually black) and for wood (usually red). If you are looking at handheld torches, i made a burnzomatic high heat (swirl tip) with the yellow can MAPP gas work with a two brick forge. You will always have a need for a handheld propane torch, even after getting a forge or kiln, for soldering and other things.
 
Yes, cheap angle grinder and cut off wheels. Biggest double cut file you can find, make sure it has at least one safe side edge. You can grind them in, but it's less hassle to buy them with that feature already. Medium sided round, and half round are good ideas too.

A range of #180 - 600 grit wet/dry paper is a good idea. You can decide whether you want to go higher than that as you move along.

Also, a decent vise, digital caliper, and various clamps. Layout fluid is handy too, but you can just use a decent sized marker in its place.

Make a filing jig like this, it's a Godsend for this type of thing -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iNDRwwBQQ .
 
I've been looking more into the heat treating portion and I realized I probably would just be better off making a cheap forge. I've seen designs using coffee cans and kaowool. Would that be solid enough to use for the heat treating process? Would I need some lining for the inside of the blanket?
 
I havent used kaowool but i read where guys coat it with satanite (somwthing else?) Since the fibers can cause lung health issues.

Edit
I want to emphasize the use of satanite. Dont bother with fireplace refactort cement from the hardware store, even if it says it can handle 2000 degrees i will bet a lot of money it cant even handle 1000 degrees without cracking and flaking off (i know cause i tried some on my first oven build and all it did was damage my bricks).
 
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I'm looking into it now. It seems to be out of my price range as I can't find anything for under 40 USD including shipping. Would I be able to use anything else as a sealant? Would it prove to be a problem for a couple weeks if I went without it so I could save up to afford it later?
 
Depends on how much you use your lungs... :D

If you can’t afford it, just wait till you can. Work on making a bunch of knives until then.

Lots of people do use kaowool and othe ceramic fibers without a coating but lots of people use methamphetamines too... doesn’t make either safe.
 
Take a look at the stickies at the top of the shoptalk forum. Lot's of great info there, especially for first timers. For a first time forge/heat treat, you might look into using soft firebrick with a small torch, or even a weedburner. A coal forge may also be a simpler or more cost effective option.

Do you have a shop space? What kind of budget are you working with?
 
You could wear a dust mask when using the forge, and do it outside. If it's just for heat treating you won't be running it for long periods anyway. There was a discussion about "toxic vs harmful" here a while back that you might want to read. I got all my fire bricks, Inswool, and satanite from the guy that owns http://www.hightemptools.com/ at the Blade Show a couple of years ago.
 
I do like my lungs! so we'll see about that!


not a super large budget. At most a couple hundred dollars. I just want to start something I've been super excited about for about a year now. I don't have much a shop space. Most things would be done outside.

And thanks for the link that's a way better price than some of the other places I've seen. I'll do the heat treat outside as well.
 
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