How much does it cost to start making knives?

dylan_d

dylan_d

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
1,242
Hey guys, first post in this area of BFC. Anyways, I'm considering getting into knife making in the future and I'm curious about how much it costs to set up a shop. I know that the price can depend on how much of a bargain hunter you are, but I'm looking for a rough estimate. You know, how much I can expect to spend. This is for tools and shop materials alone, not knife materials. Tools would probaly inlcude a grinder, sander, drill press, a saw, files, belts, ect (did I miss anything). I don't need any forging equipment because I plan on doing stock removal. Also, all heat treating would be done by someone else, so no stuff for that either. So what do you think? Can it be done for under a $1000? Or will it be over $2000? Also, where the hell can I learn to make knives? There really aren't any makers near me, the closest one (nifmakr here at BFC) is about 3 hours away. Can I teach myself? Would a video help? One last thing, I'd appreciate any advice or comments that you have for someone considering knife making as a hobby. Thanks.
 
I am sure you can teach your self how to make knives it is just a mater of re inventing the wheel. You will re discover what we all learnt the hard way by tial and error.

Bruce evans has a site where he goes through some fantastic tutorials.
I followed one of his on how to make vine file work. wery well laid out and easy to follow nice pics.

To get started you don't need a lot of equipment but it will make it easyer. If you are married get your wife onside. She may see you start to get a bit caught up in a frenzy and think you are crazy.

It happens a lot. Have a little slush fund seperate to the house keeping.

I started on the drip feed only buying something new when I had a couple of sale. Now after ten years I had a 12 x 15 ft shed, drill press band saw, bench grinder converted to a wire wheel and buff, and a sanding machine. I also have a pile of forginging gear and the loan of a rolling mill.

I have a list a mile long of what I would like. I started with a bench, a couple of files sandpaper, hack saw, hand drill.

Make a couple the hand way you will appreciate the machines latter.

I have spent about $1500 on machine/tools That does not count the shed etc.

I still have not got the solid bench I want.
 
Dylan the advise I would give is try to figure out if you want make folders or straight blade knives, or both.Then read everything you can get your hands on. Get every video you can afford. One of the very sad things I have seen after 22 years of this are a few makers who know it all. They are not willing to accept the fact that a person making knives for 6 months can teach them something. But on the other hand every knifemaker I know that does well in his craft is more then willing to share information. Like these folks on here , they will help you a lot. One maker on here (Greymaker) has links to just about anything under the sun then some.Goodluck !

Glenn Dykes
Louisiana
 
Dylan...

Hi this is Daqo'tah, Im a new guy as well to this sport. I did start one topic here a while ago where I asked everyone to list how much money their Belt grinder was?......

if I remember correctly,,,,you are going to have to shell out from anywhere around $300 to over $1200 for a grinder.

and you got to have a belt grinder,,,just no way around it,,,ya gots ta have one..
 
Frenzy and desperation are two words that stick in my mind for starter makers. My first purchase was a Dremel because I didn't have any of you wonderfull folks to ask. Grinder, solid advice! What Roger says has a double meaning, too. The more you learn right off the boat will help you decide what YOU need first! Most of us started off without even a shoestring, and many of us did the work on the kitchen table when we could. You know what kind of a mess polishing, etc.,a Dremel does in the kitchen? I am an expert in clean up, by the way.Your skin is a good magnet for picking up filings, too.
 
I suggest getting a couple books, and maybe heading over to Primal Fires knife forums. They have an incredibly in-depth tutorial there on making your first knife, and of course its a Neo-tribal-style site, meaning your costs are dirt-cheap! Very easy to make a blade their way.

Another way is simply to buy a couple kit knives and it will just come to you. you'll naturally gravitate to what works for you.
 
it cost 2 cents to start. everyones 2 cents here...:)
there is 14 cents built up now.:D
 
This Link will get you started,when you get the fever buy the best equipment you can afford.........hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/
 
dylan_d,

There has been a lot of good advice so far. Here is how I got started 5 years ago.

I ordered a book called "How to make knives" by Loveless and Barney. I then acquired a few (4 or 5) files, a stack of sand paper, a buffing wheel and compound for my Dremel a hacksaw and a vice. After I got my tools together, I ordered some precision ground steel, brass, pins and some wood for the handle. It took me a week to get my first blade shaped and ready to send off to be heat treated and another to get the bolsters and handle on when it came back. When it was all said and done I ended with a pretty nice knife. The point that I'm trying to make is that you don't need to lay out a bunch of money on expensive tools to get started. All of the machines in the world won't necessarily make your knives any better until you master using them. I like the control and feeling I get with hand tools, but then I'm not in a hurry either. A lot of these guys are doing this for a living and as such have a need for speed.

Anyways, I started out spending around 200.00 initially for tools and such. Using nothing but hand tools for a while helped me to understand just how hooked/dedicated I am to this craft.

Good luck and most importantly, have fun!
Rick
 
Hi Dylan,

It's good that you've narrowed your starting point down to stock-removal only. Keeping that restriction in mind will help guide your choices of equipment when you go out to buy gear. IMHO don't buy gear until after you've read through a few books, or a bunch of books if you've got the time.

I'm cheap and hate to buy something if I can borrow it to check it out. Before starting out, the advice to read/learn all you can for basic education is accurate. By investing some time reading, you can save spending money unnecessarily while equipping yourself.

Bottom Line: Read knifemaking books from the public library.

Libraries are great because they are free (did I mention I'm cheap? ;) ), have helpful people there to assist you finding books on your desired topic, and often have a decent (if sometimes older) selection of books on the knifemaking craft. But most of the techniques and methods used to make knives don't change a lot, so even if the book is older the info will still be valid.

By checking books out of the library, you get to see which books & authors present information in a style that matches your learning style. For a given reader, some authors will be simply easier to "get it" and understand what they are saying in their books. A few trips to the library will help you find which authors work best for you.

You may want to check out the Loveless book already mentioned by Mr Baum and "The $50 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard, plus any others your local library system may have on hand. You might also ask if there are folks here on BFC that have books they'd be willing to loan you.

Book review of "The $50 Knife Shop" located at http://www.knifeworld.com/knifeworld/50knifeshop.html

As JHiggins said, putting together a few kit knives is a way to see how much you like the hobby without sinking a lot of bucks into equipment. Plus, you'll have a couple of "made by me" knives after you've put the kit knives together checking things out.

When you do start shopping for equipment, I have some comments on machinery manufacturers' RepairCenter/Outlets that may help you save some money here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=272344
 
For someone just starting out now....the best piece of knifemaking equipment you can buy is your computer....I wish that when I started in 90-91 that I had the resources that the internet has provided, especially here on the forums. All you need to do is ask....and 10 or more makers here will respond within hours. It is great!
 
Can get started for $200 or even less if you want. Just realize from start that you are going to end up spending a lot of money. This is an addiction.

Even so, about a year or a bit more later now, I'm sitll only $1300 in hole, and wouldn't be at all if I could arrange to actually finish some more and sell them. :)

But actually got some work done today, for first time in a while, so theres' still hope. :)
 
I liked the advice on starting with hand tools for a couple of your first pieces. You will learn how to make a knife from the start; later you can learn to work with power tools. Get good with files, it will stand you in good stead forever. Take your time and learn how to hand finish with wet-or-dry paper. Study the books. You can find titles on here and go the library route as suggested. Most libraries have affiliations with bigger libraries so they can order the books in. Study the heck out of the forums' tutorials and seek out tutorials on makers' websites... there is an abundance of "how to" on the net... folks here have all given great advice.

If I was gonna tell you one power tool to get, it would probably be a drill press to start out; you can get an adequate one for about $50. This will allow you to drill holes where ya want, instead of the chance you take hand drilling. The next would be something to make cutting out a profile easier, like a bandsaw at %150, but it can be done with a hacksaw if one is energetic.

I have a shop full of good tools, but find more and more that I like the peacefulness of hand tools. Quiet, less dust to breathe, just as satisfying. The bottom line is most of us are tool junkies in addition to the knives, and if one has too much money it isn't surprising to find out one has invested $30k over the years. :) You don't have to do that to make a knife, but it's fun.... :D

Good luck, and welcome to a great hobby/avocation.
 
Thanks a lot guys, those are some great tutorials. I'll head out to the library Tomorrow. I forgot to mention that I do plan on making the first few knives with simple hand tools, I was just curious about the price further down the line. Lucky for me, my dad already has a drill press, vice, and a dremmel. That should be a good start. The first couple of knives will definitely be fixed blades, but I really want to make folders. Particularly frame locks, liner locks, and lockbacks. Hoefully, before October is over, I'll have started on my first one :D Thanks a lot.
 
What I would like to know is where do you find belt grinders for less than 7-800 dollars?
 
Sears and Harbor Freight and Northern Tools has some around $99, harbor freight has some cheap ones for under $50.
 
STOP! Get out now, while you still can! :)

Once you start, you won't be able to stop. And, if you think you are spending money on knives now, wait until you start buying equipment and materials. :eek:

Just kidding about the "getting out" part. Welcome to the world of knifemaking. Just trying to let you in on what you're getting into.
 
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