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  1. #1
    Novice grinder of all things metal DoubleEdgeFreak's Avatar
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    Default Need some advice about knife making

    I might get bashed for asking these questions but here goes:

    Q:What type of bench grinder is good for beginners?

    Q:Belt grinder or Wheel?

    Q:What are the best types of metal to use at beginner status?

    Thanks guys i really would appreciate any tips you have because i'm just lost on this art of crafting a blade.

  2. #2
    Junior Member lkiers's Avatar
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    Pick up a copy of $50 Dollar Knife Shop by Wayne Goddard, its worth its weight in gold when you are starting out.

    As for grinders go with belt (there are plans for building your own in $50 Dollar knife shop if you are on a tight budget)

    For metal old files (or even new files for that matter) make great inexpensive knife blanks that will take an amazing edge but you will have to anneal the files before grinding and then quench and temper them once you are done. All of this is covered in the book.

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  4. #3
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    Steel and other supplies are available from Janz Knifemakers' Supply. O1 is a good steel to start with - or finish with, for that mater. As to grinders, you generally get what you pay for. My KMG was arould $700 without a motor. My motor came off a junk treadmill. Good luck! Ditto on the $50 Knife Shop

  5. #4
    Junior Member amcardon's Avatar
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    I too have a copy of $50 Knife Shop. Read around on the knifemaking forums (BladeForums, KnifeDogs, Jerzee Devil, etc...), they all have great info. Take a look at THIS post, has a lot of links that might save you some time searching... Good luck, brother! It's quite the addiction! By the way, I use a GIB setup with a 1.5HP motor from Wayne Coe. I really like it, but I know there are lots of great machines out there.

  6. #5
    Senior Member Moonshine's Avatar
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    amcardon pretty much summed it up in one post! That should be plenty of info to get you pointed in the right direction! Good luck and be sure to post your results!

  7. #6
    Vlad the Impaler LX_Emergency's Avatar
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    +1 on the Wayne Goddard book.

    As for tools:

    A good set of files will go a long way. (even instead of a grinder) together with some elbox grease.

    If you decide to use old files for steel source then don't remember to anneal them (just chuck them into the fire when BBQing and pull them out of the ashes the next day) otherwise you're going to have a tough time filing or grinding the steel.

    I'd recommend just buying some carbon steel though. It's really not that expensive and saves hassle. Most people recommend O1. Personally I don't like O1 on a knife. (it rusts WAY too easily) and from some of the experts I've heard that giving it the perfect heat-treat is a bit finicky.

    Instead I'd recommend 1084. (NOT 1095 also a finicky heat treat to get just right).

    As from what I've heard it's very forgiving in the heat treat, will get a good edge retention and is a tough and easy to work with steel. This is all hearsay though because the carbon steel I've worked with so far is 1.2519 (german steel type name) and that stuff was a dream to work with....in fact I'm going to have to buy some more when I run out of Damascus


    For the rest....good luck and don't worry about making misstakes....we all do.

  8. #7
    "My words are of iron..."
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    Quote Originally Posted by LX_Emergency View Post
    +1 on the Wayne Goddard book.

    ... A good set of files will go a long way. (even instead of a grinder) together with some elbow grease.

    ...I'd recommend just buying some carbon steel though.

    ...good luck and don't worry about making misstakes....we all do.
    All good stuff that. Start with files and save money on power tools until you really need them. The principles of removing metal are the same whether by hand or power and learning the principles from the beginning using simple tools is much more important. The benefits are better control over the work by hand = less scrap from mistakes. You can always buy or build power tools later when your customers have you to stuck to a waiting list trying to get them a piece of your work.

    Also look here: Index Bob was my first teacher of blades. He was the best of his day. His shop catalog was the original knifemaking instruction book and it only got better over time. This link contains all those pages.

    Another book often missed is by David Boye. Called Step by Step Knifemaking. It's a worthy addition to the library. Boye Knives Cobalt Blade Boat Knife - Rigging & Sailing Yacht Knife

    Another, Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles and Sheaths by Bo Bergman if you're into scandinavian style knives. A good copy is getting rare and spendy but rumors are that a paperback print is coming.
    “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power.” R.G.Ingersoll

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  10. #8
    Junior Member amcardon's Avatar
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    +1 on David Boye's book, another one in my collection.

    Another WIP to check out...

    I know for some guys files are a great place to start. To be honest, my ADD would never allow me to do a knife that way, I am far too impatient (not a good characteristic for knifemaking!) so withouth a grinder I never would have made a single knife. Granted, I started with a $50 used Delta 1x42 belt grinder I found on craigslist and used that for the first couple dozen knives before I upgraded to the GIB. I still use it for every knife I make.

  11. #9
    Vlad the Impaler LX_Emergency's Avatar
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    I've read David Boye's book as well. It's a pretty decent read. I do use powertools when I can. But I've had a time when my grinder died and I got on just fine with files.....(although progress was annoyingly slow sometimes.)

    If you'd like to know what you can do with files and handtools this guy does (almost) all his work with handtools. I believe the only exceptions are things like drilling:

    MAknives



  12. #10
    May your bone always be well buried MickR's Avatar
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    Here's one of my own that I made solely with files, sandpaper and elbow grease. Power tools are a luxury, a nice luxury to have, but not required to make a knife. This one is ATS34. I would also suggest for a carbon steel to try L6 as well. All those previous posts contain all good advice. You just have to get in and give it a go.




    Mick

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