Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the advice.Originally Posted by WillC
Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the advice.
Unfortunately I am going to have to practice a little patience for a while though. I have access to a metal shop, and building a small forge seems very doable from videos I've watched, but I don't have an anvil yet, and I'm primarily interested in forging rather than stock removal.
Need to hit the local scrap yards sometime soon. See if I can find something workable to get started with.
That's part of the reason I've been distracting myself a bit by studying up on theory and techniques. Time will come....soon.
User name on most forums is Larrin. He is one of Devin's son's. He has a masters in materials science and a PhD in metallurgy. His posts are worth seeking out. He is one of the people I miss most on this forum. He shared a lot of knowledge with us and I'm forever grateful.
Ah, thanks for the clarification. I'll be sure to seek his posts out as I learn.
Definitely read Verhoeven as he explains all the science instead of forums where you can often get a do-it-this-way recipe (which may not always be correct).
Also don't knock stock removal as a way to get started. I'm working on my own knives #3, 4, and 5 right now, all stock removal only so far, but I'm learning a LOT by DOING as WillC mentioned. Designing, prototyping, bevel grinding, heat treat, tempering, and handle construction are all things you can learn and gain experience doing on stock removal knives that will be applicable to forged knives. Also, forged knives will also require stock removal unless you're only planning on making some caveman sort of blunt force hacking ax.
It's easy to make something quite usable, hard to make something superb. It's a lot of fun though!
Indeed, the reading in his book I've done so far seems like it's very well done and makes things quite understandable.
Yeah good points. I shouldn't let my fascination with forging delay getting my feet wet while I acquire the tools needed to do things the way I really want to.Also don't knock stock removal as a way to get started. I'm working on my own knives #3, 4, and 5 right now, all stock removal only so far, but I'm learning a LOT by DOING as WillC mentioned. Designing, prototyping, bevel grinding, heat treat, tempering, and handle construction are all things you can learn and gain experience doing on stock removal knives that will be applicable to forged knives. Also, forged knives will also require stock removal unless you're only planning on making some caveman sort of blunt force hacking ax.
It's easy to make something quite usable, hard to make something superb. It's a lot of fun though!
Sorta wanted my first knife to be one I forged myself. But I guess that can wait...
This.
Studying papers and watching videos is one thing, but to hold a piece of steel yourself and watch/feel it subtly change right in front of your eyes is something else entirely.
https://youtu.be/4x0f2b_0kn0?t=6m17s
Yup, I hear ya folks. Thanks for the encouragement and good advice.
I do tend to be a theory-first sort of learner, but I also know that can't replace the value of hands-on experience.
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