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

You can make quite good knives with only a file, some sandpaper,a hacksaw,a rasp(if you're doing a wooden handle) and a vice or something else that you can use to mount the knife(i.e size press).
most of this stuff is pretty cheap and if you go for a size press instead of a vice this will cost about 20-30$. Remember to also buy some protective gear(glasses,gloves etc.)
 
Hey Craig, I recently began knifemaking myself and have been scouring youtube and forums like this for the past month and it can definitely be overwhelming lol.
I ended up making that coffee/paint can forge out of half and half plaster paris and sand for a low temp heat treat forge option using a high heat benzomatic torch head. I made one with a 3” opening and it works well for heat treating short knives 5-6” and will work for longer ones (10” is the largest I’ve attempted) if you put another torch blowing in the back end. It is by no means perfect because it is a giant heat sink but it’ll be sufficient for basic stock removal ht needs and is very cheap to make. If you want to improve it later you can always add some real refractory cement. (I used some meecos red devil 610 and interestingly if you put direct flame on it it puffs up like a puff pastry which helped insulate it a bit more I think)
I’m going to build a bigger forge soon (~20” long x 9”od/5”id from ceramic insulation and castable refractory and dual 3/4” venturi burners) because I want to get into bladesmithing rather than just stock removal but if I were just doing stock removal the plaster/sand forge would be sufficient.
Also, I love my angle grinder sanding disks for rough beveling and only use a 1x30 sander for profile cleanup which could easily be accomplished with files. Wish you luck getting started!
 
Craig, you have received a great set of responses here. Having just started myself, the best way i can contribute is to run you through my set up.. Let me start by saying that if you think you are going to like this, and it sounds like you already do, just save your money and buy the best you can afford.. if you buy the cheapest tool out there, then you will either replace it or upgrade it and end up spending more $$..
for my grinder, i had a porter cable 3x21 belt sander that i clamped in a vice vertically. it works ok, but it does not really have a way mounting a tool rest for square grinding.. I was given a harbor freight 1x30 as well (they are under 60$), and between the two i can grind, but im still very limited. Ill be spending more for a real grinder as soon as I have the cash.
I made my forge from an old Charcoal Chimney.. the kind you fill up with charcoal and light paper stuffed under it. I cut some holes in the sides, and placed forms where I wanted ports for the torch heads, and used old tennis ball cans for the chamber form.. filled it with refractory cement and blammo.. 50 dollar forge.. I have to move the steel around in it alot to keep the heat even, but it seems to reach the right temps..

like most everybody on here, my first blades were made with files and sandpaper.. like the others said it was sloooow going.. but very rewarding. there is nothing like the feeling of using a knife that you made for what you intended to make it for.
anyways good luck!
 
It really only takes a few limited tools as others have noted to actually make a knife. If you catch the bug though, you'll end up wanting ALL of the tools... Like everything, and more room to put everything. I think I have a tool making/acquiring bug worse than a knife making bug. YMMV though. :eek::D
 
Second ten-six's post. I started with Aaron Gough's file jig and it (in my opinion) is a great way to start.
 
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