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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need. |
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#1
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Just made an insane BEAST (Got paid to ignore some advice)
Just finished making this to the specifications of a customer. He wanted a softer steel which he got, and some heft to the blade. 1/4 inch plate steel, it WAS fired in the forge and oil quenched to get as much hardness as possible. At the end of the tang I blowtorched it with MAP gas and hammered out a flat spot for batoning as per request. We both decided on the shape of the handle, I left s small clip at the tip of the blade for the kind of batoning he wanted to do with it. I used spalted stabilized poplar for the scales. The bevel is probably the best one I've done so far, and at least it left the shop razor sharp. I got to play with it for a few after pics were taken, it's a BEAST. I'm really sad to see it leave my possession. Guess I gotta make another after I get more steel. I've been told numerous times to work on smaller blades, but a paying customer is a paying customer. I DID start on a MUCH smaller trailing point hunter to make up for it. I'm burned out on grinding right now so it's on hold after heat treating. This one sold for $100 and he is like a kid in a candy shop with it.
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#2
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That actually looks pretty fair for what it is and the money can buy you some real blade steel or more belts so making a big knife isn't all bad. Besides, I think you understand why we suggest smaller knives at first and I don't think you're going to let the problems and possible disappointments that most new makers run into on big knives stop you so more power to you. But make some small ones anyway so we can see where that takes you ...
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#3
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#4
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My local wrecking yard has a pile of leaf springs and they let me have all I wanted for free. Most scrap yards will have springs for scrap price. I suggest you at least do something similar so that you have a moderate chance of sending out something other than a knife shaped object. Seriously. Had that at least been hardenable steel, I would have said its a step forward. A 1/2 inch bevel as opposed to a 1/4 and a pretty cool design. But that handle will leave blisters on the index finger about the same time the blade starts looking like beavers chewed on it. You seriously owe it to your customers to give them a product that has a chance of surviving life as a knife. Thats my feelings on it, I guess you are free to do what you like.
Pm Me your address and I will shove some leaf spring material in a flat rate box and ship it to you for free so you stop making my head explode. LOL |
#5
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#6
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Why did your customer want something made from soft steel. It literally has no advantage over any blade steel. You don't want to make a name for yourself as someone who makes knives that won't work. This should be something that you explain to anyone who suggests you make knives out of crap steel.
__________________ -Hunter |
#7
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The only answer I've gotten out here on the phone so far quoted me $50 a set for leaf springs. How bad of a price is that?
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#8
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#9
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You need to learn to control the quality of the product that you put out. Hunter makes an excellent point your name as a knife maker is now associated with a knife shaped object. Also don't assume that your friend, when he realizes that the knife won't hold up, doesn't blame you for it.
Learn to protect the quality of the product that you put out and refuse to allow the buyer to dictate that you make the blade wrong. I don't think that there are any full time knife makers who would have taken on that job Doug __________________ If you're not making mistakes then you're not trying hard enough |
#10
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I agree with Hunter and Doug. It really is up to us, the makers, to educate our customers.
If I went to Taylor Guitars and asked them to make me a guitar that wouldn't stay in tune; do you think they would? Not ever! Their reputation is worth more than all the guitars they have ever made. Maybe you should be giving away knives at this stage. In exchange for a knife, you ask for feedback on the knife and how it's being used. Give knives to hunters, farmers, butchers, chefs, friends and family. But always ask for feedback. Offer free sharpening. When someone brings one of your knives back for sharpening, you can see how materials and your construction techniques are holding up to real life use. Take every opportunity to improve. Improve your methods and choices of materials. Knowledge is valuable. Although very few of us will ever be full-time knifemakers, it is a possibility for some. Your chances of success improve with every bit of good advice you heed. Quality and your passion will drive the business side of things later, even if that business is part time. Dan |
#11
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I totally get where you guys are coming from, honestly it wouldn't have been made out of that if this wasn't for a close friend that knows all of the liabilities and I made sure he knew them and he's gonna be doing a LOT of torture testing on it and giving me feedback. I'm not going to let another one out of the shop made from the same steel, the more I get the hang of proper steel the worse I feel about that one. He also knows that if or when it fails on him he gets a replacement no questions asked. I knew it was sketchy going into it, I educated him as thoroughly as possible and I did all I could to make myself feel better about it. I'll probably end up just making him another one anyways after I get new steel in.
Last edited by AllanBeasley; 03-10-2015 at 09:30 PM. |
#12
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__________________ R.Watson B.C. Canada |
Tags |
advice, art, bee, bevel, blade, blades, flat, forge, grinding, handle, heat, hunter, knife, made, make, making, ore, quenched, razor sharp, scales, sharp, shop, small, steel, tang |
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