Getting Started in knifemaking?

R

RobRPM2222

Joined
Jan 6, 2002
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I have been wondering aboot making knives for some time now. I figure that, since I enjoy knives and don't have a lot of cash, I might as well start making some for myself to save labor costs and to give me a good productive hobby. I have been doing some looking on bladeforums.com Archives for some info and am looking to order some of the most often recommended books and videos on knifemaking ( suggestions welcome, right now I'm looking at a lot of the books from KnifeWorld )

My question is, how long would it take and how much would it cost for me to set up a small basic knifemaking shop and learn how to make basic knives? I would like to start off making small, practical fixed blade knives, and work my way
up to stuff like khurki's, bowies, and tactical folders. I have around $140 currently at my disposal ( a bit better than the $50 Knife Shop. ) I can sit on the money and wait until I can get a part-time job to augment the funds if that
is required. I understand that I will not be able to get the finest equipment for that price and may have to scavenge parts to a degree, however I would like to get/build stuff that will last and be useful if I am able to purchase more expensive gear in the future.

I have no experience with "the metallurgical arts" or metalcraft. I have some ( just a little ) experience with woodworking, usually assisting my dad as he build some of his projects ( cabinets, shelves, a sitch-n-glue kayak, etc. ) We have
a pretty complete garage shop for basic woodworking- table saw, drill press, and lots of tools, no lathe or machine tools though. I think I can borrow my uncle's grinder (don't know what type it is, I can find out), but that would
only be on a temporary basis until I could get my own.

if more information is required, I will try to provide it. If I have asked questions that are already answered in other posts, I apologize for not finding them ( I did look, ) and ask that you could point me towards them.
 
I just finished my first real knife with tools I had in the shop already. I plan to make a lot more before I figure to deserve tools dedicated to knife making.

The primary power tools I used were a 4"x36" Delta sander and a drill press. I have a grinder but it didn't seem very useful. Maybe for shaping the profile and buffing. The sander is vastly under powered but I figure if I don't make the mistake of using a good one I'll never know the difference. I used O-1 steel so I could heat treat it myself - seems like part of the fun. I built a coffee can 'forge' by lining one with refractory made from furnace cement and perlite and heated the steel with a mapp gas torch. Stole a bread pan, and the candy thermometer from the kitchen for the oil edge quench and I tempered in the toaster oven.

I don't know if the knife I made is a better performer than a $140 dollar knife. I got a big kick out of making it and it seemed to mean a lot to the person I gave it to but if I didn't have the tools already I could have bought a good knife for the price of them.

In Loveless's knifemaking book there is a chapter on making a knife completly with hand tools. I figure the moral there is if you want to make a knife or several then you will. With or without a Burr King or whatever.

Regards

Lynn
 
If you're trying to save money, don't start making knives. :p It's addictive and soon you'll be buying large boxes of grinder belts, wood, steel, sandpaper, buffs, drill bits, waxes, oils, and leatherworking materials (adds up to a lot of money :eek: ) to fuel your addiction. :D It's a lot of fun though, and if you have a lot of self discipline you can probably keep costs low if you already got some of the basic knifemaking tools. I had to start with none of the tools except a couple files and a bench grinder (which doesnt work all that great for grinding blades). Got addicted and had to buy a new belt grinder, drill press, and a bunch of other stuff. :D
 
thanks for the responses so far. :)

well, looks like saving money is out as a justification.
I still would like to build my own knives though. What are
some of the better books to learn basic knifemaking from?
I've heard good things about the $50 Knife Shop, How to Make
Knives, and the Complete Bladesmith. What books or combination of those books or others would you advise a newbie to get?
 
I started with a drill stand and a hand belt sander clamped upside down in a vise. No kidding. Not too much longer after that I bought a Craftsman 4X36 grinder and then a Ryobi benchtop drill press. It just keeps going from there.

Go ahead and jump in with what you have. You don't need much equipment to start, take a look at this:

Absolute cheapskate way to start making knives

Jonesy did an excellent job with his tutorial. 'This is what knifemaking is all about. He took the time to do this to help his fellow knifemakers out. What a guy!

C Wilkins
 
Jonesy's tutorial has probably inspired as many new knifemakers as a lot of books, and is a whole lot better at getting you through the first one. It's a good read.
 
I've begun to make my first knife some time ago.
Here is what I have in my "shop", useful in making my first knife:
A room dedicated to hobbies, with a bench and a bench vise.
A bunch of files. You actually just need a bastard file and a mild file, both in flat and half-round cross sections.
Some sandpaper and two crystal blocks.
A pencil.
A power hack saw (it's a bonus, I could have done with a manual metal hacksaw, some time more and a lot of muscle) :)
I don't even have a drill press. I'll borrow one till I can get my own.
A vacuum cleaner.
That's all.
Many famous knifemakers say one should always build at least one knife completely by hand, without any power tools.
I'll follow their advice out of need and lack of equipment :)
Doing the work without any compromise is extremely important. Just do the best that you can achieve. If it takes a year to finish your first knife, because of your real work, lack of equipment and other things, so be it.

I think that in knifemaking the most important thing is not starting with good equipment vs starting with poor equipment.
The important thing is STARTING!
 
Good luck in your quest. Knifemaking can be very addicting. I started out by just being a knifenut collector and got the urge to make knives. Next thing I know, I am not only spending money on knives, but now I always buy materials and machinery. I sold off several of my custom knives a while ago to pay for a Bader BIII and do not regret it. First thing I do at a knife show is go to the suppliers tables and pick out the nicest stag(if you can find any worth buying) and wood. I have now amassed a garage full of steels, micarta, woods, stag, and all kinds of other supplies. As for my knifemaking, I dont find myself finishing much of anything as I am too picky about my finished products, but I am having lots of fun trying. Like they say, dont make one unless you plan on making more. There is no cure.
 
some suggestions I would make:
1) read Jonesy's tutorial
2) maybe start with a finished blank and add the guard/slabs? (would probably give you a good idea if you want to pursue further)
3) Use the archive and search on this forum, because you don't know what to ask if you haven't read what the issues are. Saves a lot of time.

At least that is what I did (of course the tutorial by Jonesy) was a little late for my development, but a good one nonetheless. So many suggestions--too little time--Dan

(and I'm still following my own advice!)
 
How long and how much can't really be answered. Building a knife can be done now with nothing but a file. They do it in prison every day. I have been building knives and swords for years. I learn something new every day and have yet to make what I consider the perfect knife. I expect if you are a tinkerer that enjoys a challange you are ready to start now. If you are that type of person you will be a knife addict soon. Just don't try to get too far too fast and get discouraged.

I build knives that caan and will be used. They are as a rule very good users. I don't sell them because it does a disservice to real knife makers (Bruce and Bruce, Laurence, Etc, Etc.) I don't want to compete with them when a customer can buy a production knife that is as good or better than mine. I may reach a point someday that I feel comfortable with it. The point is, don't start with the idea that you will make mone right off or produce a perfect knife.

You will get a ton of enjoyment and satisfaction out of it and wind up with some darn fine knives in the process.

start small and see how you like it. If it suits you buy (build) some equipment and progress. Good luck!:)
 
That 'Jonesy' tutorial is excellent. are there any other good tutorials on that 'hossom.com' page? I tried to get a file listing for that /tutorials/ directory but couldnt...

--Matt
 
Thanks for all the comments on the tutorial.

And a BIG thanks to Jerry for putting that on his website. I am not sure why the pics are not working in the thread I will check it out.

Doesn't matter how much equipment you have, just go for it and never give up. Lots of great knives by great makers are made with a minumum of tools.

Later
Jonesy
jonesy777@websurf.net
 
If your pics are on Photopoint this maybe because it seems to have some problems.
You may try posting them on www.imagestation.com and edit your posts to redirect the links or have the forum admin do it for you if the edit time of the posts has expired.
 
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