What is needed to start making knives?

[DanCom]

Yeah thanks for your videos Aaron. I borrowed your beveling jig idea and made something very similar that I can clamp on the bench.

I would suggest that all of us newbies check out your time lapse video on making knives with common tools. I watched that about 10 times and always find inspiration.

As a fellow Canuck I noticed the Mastercraft bench vise right away. Cheers mate!

Dan

 

[TheDandyLion]

Hey, I've got nothing against using an angle grinder! Use what you've got on hand! I'm no snob!

Its not that its all I have on hand i just prefer the more "hands-on" approach I have a belt sander and a bench grinder but the good Ole' angle grinder is the only one that I like to use for shaping

 

[aarongough]

Yeah thanks for your videos Aaron. I borrowed your beveling jig idea and made something very similar that I can clamp on the bench.

I would suggest that all of us newbies check out your time lapse video on making knives with common tools. I watched that about 10 times and always find inspiration.

As a fellow Canuck I noticed the Mastercraft bench vise right away. Cheers mate!

Dan

Glad to hear that the video was helpful mate! Best of luck!

 

[FullyTorque]

Aaron,
Thanks for posting those videos. I wish I had seen your jig set up before I built mine. I'm going to have to use some of your design to rebuild mine, like the stop bolt. I used a clamp as a guide but a bolt would be more stable.
Your videos are a great example of how a really nice knife can be made with inexpensive tools.

I'm ready to heat treat my second knife and about to build a small can forge to heat the blade. My first blade was tiny so I was able to heat it using a propane burner and torch, but my second knife is larger and needs more even heat. I can't find soft fire brick locally, so I'm going to try using plaster and sand in a soup/coffee can forge. This will cost me only $5 for the plaster of paris. I already have a small torch and the sand and can will be free. If it works, great, but if not I won't be out much money on the experiment.

 

[aarongough]

Aaron,
Thanks for posting those videos. I wish I had seen your jig set up before I built mine. I'm going to have to use some of your design to rebuild mine, like the stop bolt. I used a clamp as a guide but a bolt would be more stable.
Your videos are a great example of how a really nice knife can be made with inexpensive tools.

I'm ready to heat treat my second knife and about to build a small can forge to heat the blade. My first blade was tiny so I was able to heat it using a propane burner and torch, but my second knife is larger and needs more even heat. I can't find soft fire brick locally, so I'm going to try using plaster and sand in a soup/coffee can forge. This will cost me only $5 for the plaster of paris. I already have a small torch and the sand and can will be free. If it works, great, but if not I won't be out much money on the experiment.

I've seen a few people successfully use the paint can style forge. The only advice I can give is: don't make it too big. The bigger the chamber is the more heat you'll need to pump in to get your knives hot enough. If you're using just a propane torch then you need to keep that chamber small indeed!

Best of luck mate! It really is a very rewarding hobby!