Cool video, but bad choice of wood - rosewood from Madagascar is usually illegally harvested, and deforestation is a significant problem there with most forests decimated
I was pleased to see you measure the front part of the handle with your last three fingers -- most kitchen pros spend a lot of time using a knife in a pinch grip with forefinger and thumb on the blade, wrapping the other fingers around the handle. I've picked up "chef's knives" at knife shows that were works of art, but totally unsuited for their intended purpose. Although, for that matter I've seen some well known brands of German knives modified with Dremels and stones to make them comfortable... Clyde
Great video. Cool to see how efficiently you work and utilize your tools. Going straight from 60 grit to 360 Jflex is great tip along with everything else. And seeing how you cut the angles from the curved part of the handle to the heel really gives me some good ideas about how to improve my work. Thanks again! I would really like to see more ‘how to’ and workflow videos in the future!!
I have been compiling blacksmithing list for my son and I we nearly have what we need to get started. Your journeyman video, with jason knight and your test knives as well as this one, are super informative. Thanks for your help. Good luck in all you do.
Man, I would kill for the raw footage of this.... even spending a day in your shop and watching you work, I picked up a ton of things in this video. I wish more was on the bolster but what I could tell you put a 45 on both sides then rounded it over....
I'm a big fan of winging it, I can never make a handle that matches any drawing I make first. I don't have a belt grinder so I use a palm belt sander and finish with various dowels wrapped in abrasive. Good video.
Always nice to see how other bladesmiths do their thing, I definitely picked up a few good tips I may borrow. Wish you all the best with your JS test, which I'm guessing has already happened since Blade is already going on? Thanks for sharing, Liam! 👍
FYI. It's a beautiful wood and polishes like glass. Similar to Bois de Rose also from Madagascar which I have used for fretboards. I learned, before I made the mistake, not to oil the wood as it will turn almost black and loseing it's beautiful color and can't be restored. Love your work.
Great little tutorial, lots of little tips in there. Since you mention it, maybe a future video idea is how to grind a recurve blade. Could be a bowie or something like a kukri.
Liam, I am surprised (more shocked) that you can move directly from 60 grit to 320 grit without leaving some 60 grit scratches. I do not have a grinder like yours and I am neither a blacksmith or a knifemaker but I am a woodturner. On the lathe my goal is to turn a fine enough surface so I can start any sanding at no lower than 100 grit and preferably higher if sanding is required at all. It has been my experience that I can safely skip a grit level between sandings but that would mean something on the order of 60 to 100 to 150 to 220 to 320 using the same starting and ending points as you. Regardless, you clearly make it work to your satisfaction. Well done, and greetings from down the hill in Charlotte! I hope to meet you someday.
Be nice if if you has some 3 axis mill that just spins the knife slowly as it cuts the shape and you just sand it down once its roughed in. Not sure if that would be faster, but you could do other things while it is worker.
I only have a single speed grinder, but always curious as to what speed you are using for the shaping? Also what speed do you use for grinding after heat treat? That is one gorgeous knife Mr. Hoffman
do you protect the wood on chefs knifes with something? just thinking that a washing machine can damage the wood haven't watched the hole video yet, in case you're talking about this later in the video.
Liam be careful your hand was very close when you were drilling those holes in the axle head!!! You should be clamping it down!! I now notice your hand with blood don't take any risks for speed!!
How long it took for you to be able to do lefty/righty work with the same amount of feel and pressure? Myself as right-handed I still struggle when grinding delicate handles lefty.
See, I don't have that type of grinder available, but of the handles I've made for various things, that's pretty much how I thought it was supposed to work.
Use a drill bit a little smaller than the knife stock or make a center scribe, it is really easy. Small piece of flat bar, drill a 1/2" hole, cut about a 4" piece of 1/2" round stock(I use TIG welding electrodes for the scribe), drill a hole in the round stock to fit the scribe(electrode), drill a hole and tap for the round bar and the elctrode, use a screw on both... I use the one i made in a lot of my videos... Hope this helps....
Yeah cheap harbor freight calipers work great, but a ruler?? I don't know about that. Seems like a lot of trouble..... Actually, I take that back, I missed him marking the handle... so yeah, a ruler would work, but a height gage is the best for something that big...
You don't need a fancy machinist's height gauge, you could make one yourself with some scrap wood and a nail point. As long as it's adjustable in height and as long as you can get your knife blade parallel to a table surface, you should see good results.
No way you're going to pass the journeyman test now, you're sharing the "secret handshake" so to speak. Be careful, the Guild will go all magician trick spoiler on you, just like they did Houdini.
Thanks for sharing the great technique and process. Learned a lot. Still does not make a craftsman out of me. That skill is learned over time. Or not....... You don't reveal skill and ability. It is something learned. Nice work Liam.
Do you sometimes think about the ecological aspects of the wood you're using? Many of this super cool woods are very rare and too often illegally taken from the rainforests, wich often does serious harm to the green lungs of our planet :( I just wondered if you thought about this problem and maybe buy certified wood? If your balls are like your biceps you will answer this comment :p And, by the way, the knife is starting to look really cool! I wish I would have your skills!
Beautiful knife, but not a very useful handle shape for a chef's knife. I love the look of it, but it does not look like it would make my life much easier in the kitchen. To grabby of a handle.
Hey bloke you are very clever at what you do
This takes a lot of skill and a great eye! Nicely done!
Really love that your method is all flat platen and slack belt, I've got real limited tools!
Cool video, but bad choice of wood - rosewood from Madagascar is usually illegally harvested, and deforestation is a significant problem there with most forests decimated
I want to thank you for sharing this with us. I used to use a half round file for my handle contours. You just made it a lot easier
I was pleased to see you measure the front part of the handle with your last three fingers -- most kitchen pros spend a lot of time using a knife in a pinch grip with forefinger and thumb on the blade, wrapping the other fingers around the handle. I've picked up "chef's knives" at knife shows that were works of art, but totally unsuited for their intended purpose. Although, for that matter I've seen some well known brands of German knives modified with Dremels and stones to make them comfortable... Clyde
I like the simplicity of these videos that show more of the process! Simple video but I am sure that is not as simple as you made it look!
Great video. Cool to see how efficiently you work and utilize your tools. Going straight from 60 grit to 360 Jflex is great tip along with everything else. And seeing how you cut the angles from the curved part of the handle to the heel really gives me some good ideas about how to improve my work. Thanks again! I would really like to see more ‘how to’ and workflow videos in the future!!
I have been compiling blacksmithing list for my son and I we nearly have what we need to get started. Your journeyman video, with jason knight and your test knives as well as this one, are super informative. Thanks for your help. Good luck in all you do.
I am a visual learner so seeing how you do things in these videos is extremely helpful. Thanks Liam
Super instructional video. Thanks from South Africa
Mr Hoffmann, this video was truly inspiring!
please keep posting these vids! your chef knives (particularly the handles are the whole reason i started making chefs knives
Thanks for the info. I’m a pretty new knife maker and I’ve been grinding my handles this way. It will help me further my skill.
I really appreciate you sharing your techniques. Helps a lot to see it done by others.
Superb tip. And very well executed indeed. Thank you “The Hoff” 🤘🏻🔥⚒
Thanks Liam for share this knowledge ! Im fron Brasil and here ia very expancive to buy belt grinder parts! Simple tecnique that helps me a lot!
I'm about to shape my first handle and this was really helpful, thanks
Thats exactly what i do when i make handles too! I thought it was just me being dumb but im glad someone else does it too haha
thank you for explaining . i learnt alot . keep up the good work !
Thank you so very much for this video!! Explains it very well for a old man like me!!
You makes it look so easy! Thanks for the tips!
Man, I would kill for the raw footage of this.... even spending a day in your shop and watching you work, I picked up a ton of things in this video. I wish more was on the bolster but what I could tell you put a 45 on both sides then rounded it over....
Thanks for the instruction Liam, appreciate your time!!!
I've been wondering how to shape of a handle like this. Thanks for the tutorial, man!
newbie here....What skill you have!
You make it look so easy.
Nice use of the corners there, sure hogs out material quick when done correctly!
Awesome Liam - cheers 👍🏻
Now that’s the way tutorials are supposed to work Excellent video thanks for the lesson keep it up
Sweeet Liam awesome info!!! I totally need a belt grinder!!!
Liked the video. Not a blacksmith/bladesmith, but loved the content. You can take that knowledge and apply it in many places.
I'm a big fan of winging it, I can never make a handle that matches any drawing I make first.
I don't have a belt grinder so I use a palm belt sander and finish with various dowels wrapped in abrasive.
Good video.
Files work well too...
Thanks for sharing!
Good stuff Liam.
Great stuff.
I like this type of how to explanation of your process. And that’s a great looking piece of wood.
Bored User that's what she said.
Nice work you proved practice makes perfect
Nice job getting Journeyman Smith!!! I'd like to go for it next year but I don't know if i'm ready.
Thanks for the knowledge on how to do it myself and another awesome video Mr. Hoffman.
Great info thanks!
I love j flex belts and great job.
Thanks for sharing
Always nice to see how other bladesmiths do their thing, I definitely picked up a few good tips I may borrow. Wish you all the best with your JS test, which I'm guessing has already happened since Blade is already going on? Thanks for sharing, Liam! 👍
FYI. It's a beautiful wood and polishes like glass. Similar to Bois de Rose also from Madagascar which I have used for fretboards. I learned, before I made the mistake, not to oil the wood as it will turn almost black and loseing it's beautiful color and can't be restored. Love your work.
Such a great video! Thanks for the tips!
Great little tutorial, lots of little tips in there. Since you mention it, maybe a future video idea is how to grind a recurve blade. Could be a bowie or something like a kukri.
Wow, You make it look easy.
I was waiting for the drawknife to come out ...I’m glad it didn’t lol nice job .
Great Video! Hope to have a space to have a real belt grinder someday lol.
Liam, I am surprised (more shocked) that you can move directly from 60 grit to 320 grit without leaving some 60 grit scratches. I do not have a grinder like yours and I am neither a blacksmith or a knifemaker but I am a woodturner. On the lathe my goal is to turn a fine enough surface so I can start any sanding at no lower than 100 grit and preferably higher if sanding is required at all. It has been my experience that I can safely skip a grit level between sandings but that would mean something on the order of 60 to 100 to 150 to 220 to 320 using the same starting and ending points as you.
Regardless, you clearly make it work to your satisfaction. Well done, and greetings from down the hill in Charlotte! I hope to meet you someday.
Very helpful, thanks!
Nicely done
Awesome, cheers for the info mate!!
Be nice if if you has some 3 axis mill that just spins the knife slowly as it cuts the shape and you just sand it down once its roughed in. Not sure if that would be faster, but you could do other things while it is worker.
You’re the master.
I only have a single speed grinder, but always curious as to what speed you are using for the shaping? Also what speed do you use for grinding after heat treat?
That is one gorgeous knife Mr. Hoffman
you make it look so god damn easy...i'm jealous
Allways thought my way of grinding was wrong. Now I fee like I can actually do something
The use of wood stains is quite common for guitar making, for example. Do you think it would work as well for knife handles?
Awesome video
Thanks buddy. I learned a lot from this.
do you protect the wood on chefs knifes with something? just thinking that a washing machine can damage the wood
haven't watched the hole video yet, in case you're talking about this later in the video.
With steel like this(high carbon) you want to hand wash the knives
Liam be careful your hand was very close when you were drilling those holes in the axle head!!! You should be clamping it down!! I now notice your hand with blood don't take any risks for speed!!
Is that the woods natural color or did you stain it
Thanks for sharing, it was definitely a learning experience. Much appreciated. GF1 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😎
How long it took for you to be able to do lefty/righty work with the same amount of feel and pressure? Myself as right-handed I still struggle when grinding delicate handles lefty.
Sweet video man. By the way, nice job creaming Alec Steele in arm wrestling at the blade show 😁 He didn't stand a chance
3:35 looks like someone got into a fist fight with their grinder
lmao
See, I don't have that type of grinder available, but of the handles I've made for various things, that's pretty much how I thought it was supposed to work.
The issue is that my grinder run really fast... like 26m/s...but i already ground a really recurve kukri so i want to try that technique
26m/s is slow my guy
Is the speed of the belt important as well? I noticed you slowed it down after hogging off a large amount of material.
That's how I shape my handle, too, but that's because I don't have contact wheels.
Awesome
What is the speed settings on your grinder? By the way its look marvelous 👍
Thanks for replaying i appreciates it👍
Good skill but think the handle is bit too short for the blade length.
what would be a more economical option for scribing a centerline?
calipers or a ruler work
Use a drill bit a little smaller than the knife stock or make a center scribe, it is really easy. Small piece of flat bar, drill a 1/2" hole, cut about a 4" piece of 1/2" round stock(I use TIG welding electrodes for the scribe), drill a hole in the round stock to fit the scribe(electrode), drill a hole and tap for the round bar and the elctrode, use a screw on both... I use the one i made in a lot of my videos... Hope this helps....
Yeah cheap harbor freight calipers work great, but a ruler?? I don't know about that. Seems like a lot of trouble..... Actually, I take that back, I missed him marking the handle... so yeah, a ruler would work, but a height gage is the best for something that big...
You don't need a fancy machinist's height gauge, you could make one yourself with some scrap wood and a nail point. As long as it's adjustable in height and as long as you can get your knife blade parallel to a table surface, you should see good results.
Are you going to go on forged in fire again?
Thank you teacher XD
No way you're going to pass the journeyman test now, you're sharing the "secret handshake" so to speak. Be careful, the Guild will go all magician trick spoiler on you, just like they did Houdini.
lunkydog what !? You can't share the things you learned in the abs !?
Thanks for sharing the great technique and process. Learned a lot. Still does not make a craftsman out of me. That skill is learned over time. Or not....... You don't reveal skill and ability. It is something learned. Nice work Liam.
Thank fucking god for this video
Niceeee
damn that need alot of practice
ASMR for knife afficianados. ha!
Basically just do it
Do you sometimes think about the ecological aspects of the wood you're using?
Many of this super cool woods are very rare and too often illegally taken from the rainforests, wich often does serious harm to the green lungs of our planet :(
I just wondered if you thought about this problem and maybe buy certified wood?
If your balls are like your biceps you will answer this comment :p
And, by the way, the knife is starting to look really cool! I wish I would have your skills!
Beautiful knife, but not a very useful handle shape for a chef's knife. I love the look of it, but it does not look like it would make my life much easier in the kitchen. To grabby of a handle.
Great video