Knife making

[Humblebub]

This Winter I will have time on my hands and will be exploring knife making. Anyone here that has a similar interest and who can point me to source of supplies, etc they have experience with?

I am not interested in forging (yet) and more interested in kits that will help me learn.

I did buy a kit from knifekits.com and other than Chinese steel it was a quality product. I welcome advice, tips etc.

Craig

 

[85Hokie]

have done it in the past.....

find some "old" wood working or metal working files, some of the best base metal to start with and go from there.

I have a fellow teacher that does it all the time - makes some very nice knives.

You'll need a wee bit of free time too!

 

[Humblebub]

Thank you sir. . Free time I will have. Dec 31 is my last day of work and now in 70th year it is time. Currently have 5 day weekends so sliding into leisure slowly. This is what started interest. Roto tiller kicked it out of garden and decided to try to restore it. A work in process.

 

[Benhameen]

Personally, Ive never attempted it but it sure looks like a good time. I watched Forged in Fire a program on the history channel I believe. It really peaked my interest in forging and knife making, I just don't have the time. Too many other irons in the fire, so too say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBMbMAbwEpc&list=PLNDookkiKkopn1Y26NITyatcg1Adj5iST

Post up some of your work when you get going, I would be interested in seeing some of your progress.

Oh and congrats on retirement!

Ben

 

[Vrat]

I've done a few knifes, all done with a blade blanks. I would like to do a full knife starting with a piece of steel and a chunk of wood.

 

[skeets]

Bub that looks like an old hickory skinning knife. I have one like it I used on big stuff we butchered. A great knife blade shape.
I had a good friend that did forge his blades,, loved to watch him work, not that i could ever do it, but he says get it hot beat the snot out of it and if you dont like it start all over again.
He also did stock removal of the blanks a good band saw files and grinder is needed,, also a good kiln to temper the blade. But he would heat it in the forge until it was non magnetic and then quench the edges first and then the backs. For him it was a labor of love, and he made knifes until cancer wouldn't let him do it any more. Remember youtube is your friend, theres a ton of stuff on there by Walter Sorose (sp) and a few other known knife makers.

 

[Ike]

This weekend about 20 miles north of me they are having Back Iron days. It has blacksmiths and many are knife makers. I watched one last year do his thing to some steel with a hammer. It sure looked like a good workout. They sometimes have kits where all you do is file and finish them for sale. There is another family there that makes knifes out of different types of stone material by chipping like the Indians did. Those knifes are really sharp. They sell thse starting at 25.00 and up

 

[Humblebub]

Thanks guys. Vrat -nice! Skeets, Walter Sorrell is the master for sure. I have a few blade blanks on the way which will get me started. On advice on one site, I tried first effort with a $5 novelty blade and .05 of 1/2 ply to make mistakes on cheap stuff. It was good fun. Almost looking forward to winter. Almost!

 

[skeets]

Now when ya get good,,, lets see what ya can do with a mower blade,,lol

 

[Tooljunkie]

Been watching forged in fire, interesting to see what those guys come up with. A couple firefighters i know throw the old files in the firepit, dig them out in the morning when its cooled off and start grinding. They come out with some nice knives.

Not my passion like some. My curiousity points me in the direction of pouring molten metal. Want to try casting some aluminum.

 

[jay2]

Ok got the video to load right.

I made a couple just grinding steel or an old file. Normally I throw knives. At the 1:50 ish mark is one I made. I'm knifethrower99 on you tube if you would like to see more. I had a 5 yr streak of never missing a day throwing until July 4 2015, I forgot that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ijnmKUF0Q

 

[Lil Foot]

Impressive, hitting the post. I'd be lucky to hit the fence in the background.

 

[skeets]

I tried to throw a knife one time I was lucky to hit the ground