what gear do i need

H

haypro

Joined
Dec 21, 2008
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im new to knife smithing and i need to know what gear i need.under $50keep in mind im only 11 trying to get started young
 
Last edited:
Kind of open ended question.... budget?

Heat source
Anvil of some sorts
Hammer
Quenching medium
1 file

Everything beyond that is optional and dependent on budget.
 
Under $50... hmmm

You can make a forge body from an old barbeque grill, use a piece of 1 1/2" black iron drilled with 1/4" holes for a tuyere make sure it extends a bit out of the body so hoses won't melt. If you go to an thrift store get an old hair dryer something for a blower.

For an anvil you can use an 8 pound sledge, piece of rail road track or even a wood splitting maul jammed into a stump or go to a local junkyard and look for something anvil shaped.

Hammer, well get a smooth faced hammer.

Buy some files, get a mill bastard and a single cut at least. I think you can get close to a 220 grit finish with a single cut.

Not sure what else..... sandpaper, handle material, pin material and lot's of elbow grease.
 
Haypro, you're more-than-welcome to drop by and have a look at my scrounged and homebuilt stuff (I'm just 20 minutes south of you). The hobby doesn't have to be expensive....but it seems to eventually go that direction.
-Mark
 
Well...I have to say that I admire your ambition. Plenty of great makers out there just using hacksaws, files and sandpaper...so don't let your budget stand in your way.
Offer still stands as long as you're accompanied by a parent.
-Mark
 
Ok i'll try to come bye as soon as i can get out of my house but i'll need more instructions on were you are
 
Well, as long as you're gonna be off.....I'll be in touch. Even with the heater on and the forge goin', it's still cold out there!
-Mark
 
polish avenger said:
Well, as long as you're gonna be off.....I'll be in touch. Even with the heater on and the forge goin', it's still cold out there!
-Mark
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I do my forging in on the back porch as you know, and I'm not going to do any work outside during this cold snap. I'm looking forward to visiting.
 
I have a question?What stuff do you have for me to use for knife smithing?P.S. i wrote down both the phone number and the email so i'll try to keep in touch
 
haypro said:
im new to knife smithing and i need to know what gear i need.under $50keep in mind im only 11 trying to get started young
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When you come over to Mark and my shops, I'll give you some good steel to use. I saw on the other thread that you were asking about other steels that you could scavenge. I'll give you some known steel to play with. Between Mark and myself we'll give you a good start. I might have some files and stuff lying around and some other things, such as pin material and handle slabs I can give you. I have bins full of good 52100, pin material, brass and nickel silver bar stock, and lots of walnut, hickory, purpleheart, and many other woods for you to play with. It will be like Christmas for you.
 
Scott's right....between the two of us, we should be able to cover the beginner basics without hurting ourselves too bad. :D
-Mark
 
Best to let these guys show you how they make a knife before asking what tools they'll let you use or have. You're young so no one is holding it against you, but restraint must be learned at some age. I wouldn't welcome anyone in my shop that expected something more than my time and advice.
 
I can show you how to build your forge fairly easily and inexpensively, but the only help I'll be able to be with materials is cutting you a section of fiber insulation to line your forge body with.
As for anvil material, I've gotten rid of anything that might be of use to you. It's not too difficult to scrounge a section of railroad track or set a sledgehammer head into concrete as a substitute, though.
I know you have smithing on your mind, but I have to suggest that you try making a knife by stock-removal at first. This will give you a taste of what it takes to design, construct, and hand-finish a knife without having to wait for a heat source and anvil.
-Mark
 
I know noone has mentioned this.... not many 11yo have the arm strength to swing a hammer for any length of time. I know, my son when he started forging was 12 and at the time was about 5'7 and 150 or so.

My 10yo daughter tries to forge and even with a small hammer can't get much steel to move.
 
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