What is needed to start making knives?

AddictedToGear

AddictedToGear

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Aug 28, 2013
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I am trying to find out what is needed to start making knives. I just want to try this out and do it for fun so a basic kit of starting supplies is what I am looking forward. Something that works well but is budget minded. A complete list would be nice including tools which is really the main question. I know that many materials may vary such as handle or blade materials.
 
I would say the first thing needed is a willingness to do some personal research, weather reading books or forums like this. The stickys at the beginning of the forums are a great place to start. Also, google is your friend, as is the search engine here. I started knowing ZERO about knifemaking, but I researched hours upon hours of info given by talented and humble makers who are free with their knowledge .....on this site in particular, before asking specific questions. Asking someone what they need to make a knife, and how to do it, is such a large question with many different answers possible. Once you have an understanding of the materials you need, and the basic procedure, then ask your specific questions that will, without a doubt, come up.
 
From many of the beginners posts I see on this forum, my answer would be a lot of research before you even consider starting your first knife. There is no complete list of tooling. There are too many different ways to go about it. A piece of simple high carbon steel and a file or two are a budget way to go. How hard do you want to work, and how many hours are you willing to put into a knife? How much are you willing to spend on tools? that could vary between $20.00 and a few thousand. Your question is not as simple as you think.
 
Thanks, when I typed the question I knew it was very general. I appreciate the input and will continue doing research, my budget as of now is around $500 for just starting out and I am just wanting to try my hand at it and improve my skills so make something that I am happy with. The idea of a simple piece of Carbon steel and a file plus some handle material sounds interesting to get started, plus I am not out a lot when I mess up a blade or two. I think this will be a good start to just get the simple mechanics of shaping a blade and handle. Maybe some of my drawings will come in handy.
 
I also recently started into the wonderful world of knifemaking and 'am on my second knife; both are stock removal method.

My most subjective and basic list of tools for one getting started is:
Vise
Hacksaw
Files/Rasp
Ball Peen Hammer
Sandpaper, lots of different grits
Cordless drill with a set of HSS bits
Gloves, respirator & safety glasses
Well lit workbench
A few C-clamps
Elbow grease (not a real grease) :-)
Last but not least a camera to take pictures to show us your progress. :-)

The rest is entirely up to you. Keep an eye on Kijiji/Craigslist/yard sales etc. for used tools. I found a 1x30 belt sander on Kijiji for $15!

After the steel is all pretty:
If you are going with high carbon steel there's always the $5 brake drum forge and a bucket of used motor oil. I opted for the propane torch meets firebrick forge. You can send you work out for heat treatment if you choose.

Welcome to the addiction!


Dan
 
Thanks that really helps out. Hopefully I can get started before Christmas, but might have to wait til the beginning of the year and just plan out a few knives. Let me know how your knives turn out. I would love to see some photos.
 
I too am about to start my first attempt at knife making! I'm especially excited, as I'm an 18 year old still eying to figure out what I want to do with my life... Split between a DNR ranger or a machinist... I love working with my hands, especially with metal... And I'm a total knife nut. But I know it's very very hard to make it as a profitable knife maker...
 
Stalk this forum. You'll pick up A LOT.
I got started by making handles for knives I already had; Becker and kitchen knives.
Then started getting premade knife blanks. After a few of those I ordered some bar steel.
In the words of Ron Burgandy "That escalated quickly."
 
I am kind of in the same boat, just started college and am 18 too. Not looking to become a full time knife maker by any means, but I am very willing to put a lot if work into a hobby I love and maybe give a few knives as gifts. P.S. It seems to me that we are all knife nuts of this forum. Especially when we look at how much we spend in knives. I thought I was insane after I bought my Microtech Socom Elite, but man it is a great blade.
 
There's more than one way to skin a cat, and even more ways to make a knife with which to skin said cat.... ;)

IIRC, the stickies have a walkthrough of how one maker made a knife for at or around $50.

Do you have any tools to begin with?

Honestly, you can make this hobby as cheap or expensive as you want to, and still achieve the goal of making a functional blade.

I once heard a guy say "I've been doing so much, with so little, for so long, that I think I could do just about anything with almost nothing."
 
Be almost been thinking my first blades will probably come out better if I just use hand tools, so I'm less likely to make a big mistake quickly on the sander.
 
I am limited on tools at the moment and that is why I figured hand tools would be the best route to start off so I do not have to put a ton of money into it off the bat. Thanks everyone you have all been very helpful in answering my generic question. I feel like I spend too much time on this forum, but who cares because everyone else on this forum has the same problem.
 
Really I started out (still on my third blade) with a few files some knife-grade scrap metal and an angle grinder (Hate all you want its still my favorite tool for the general shaping) so it is pretty easy to make a knife if you got $150 on your hands:)
 
I have been putting together videos in an attempt to address this overall question for a while. I personally think that one of the best and easiest ways to start is by using a filing jig for the blade bevels, and a hacksaw and files for your profiling.

I have a few videos that cover the topic:
Making and using a filing jig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iNDRwwBQQ
Home heat-treatment of O1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bunCG6W6dA

This method of heat-treatment does not get you 100% of what O1 has to offer, but it produces a workable blade at a reasonable cost and you get the satisfaction of doing it all yourself.

Also some specific on buying/using/maintaining files and hacksaws:
Files: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOR2UwZRBws
Hacksaws: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX59lXMx8mw

Before you think 'I know how to use a hacksaw' be aware that there are specifics to using both files and hacksaws that are not necessarily common knowledge in our current society with it's focus on power tools. eg: selecting the right blade for the job, making very deep cuts with a hacksaw, using a file card, etc...

I believe that those videos together provide a reasonable introduction to the basics of simple knifemaking. There's really no limit to how far down the rabbit hole you can go, but this will at least get you a good taste at a reasonable cost.

-Aaron
 
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