Top Ten Beginner Knife Making Mistakes...and How to Avoid Them!
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- Опубликовано: 18 июн 2024
- In this video knife maker Walter Sorrells talks about some of the mistakes he made when he first started making knives...and how to avoid making those same mistakes. Some may disagree with some specifics...but the basic thrust of the video is to stress the importance of acquiring basic knowledge of fundamental skills.
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Here are some metallurgy sources:
* Metallurgy of Steel for Bladesmiths & Others who Heat Treat and Forge Steel by John D. Verhoeven
* Heat Treating Chapter, Navy Repairman's Manual -- www.mwdropbox.com/Dropbox/NAVY...
* The Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel, by US Steel (various editions)
* Other Old Books on Heat Treating & Metallurgy -- Tons of these can be found fairly cheaply on alibris.com. Some of the info may be outdated, but they're worth picking up.
* Kevin Cashen has written a lot about heat treating all over the internet, but here's just one useful link: www.cashenblades.com/heattreat...
* bladesmithsforum.com - lot's of knowledgeable smiths. Like all forums, you have to sift good from bad info.
* As always, Google is your friend. Seach the web and you'll find lots of useful material.
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I made my first knife today and the main lesson learned was I have a long way to go
I’ve been woodworking for 4 years and I just made my first knife. Made a beautiful handle and wooden sheath but the blade was meh 😂
I bought my first 1x30 belt sander and boyyyyy let me tell ya... I’m not even a novice hahaha I hope you progress and thrive !
Keep at it. I'm working on my first knife as well.
One of the best imo, right up with realising that you never stop learning no matter the discipline,
When you think that you know it all, that's the day you should quit :-p
Use a car to travel faster🤣 jk
as a self made knife maker, i really do appreciate the time you have put into making this series of videos. You and other knife makers have helped me progress as a fabricator, blacksmith and artist overall. Thank you Mr. Sorrells!
You know, Walter, this video is a life lesson, truthfully, it goes far beyond knife making. A person could apply the lessons here to any discipline. This is one of my all time favorites. Thank you for reminding me of how important the basics are.
AKA too general advice.
Not only knife making lessons, those are life lessons.
"Doing a little things right, that is what get you to the big win." - Walter Sorrells
This is awesome Walter, but could we maybe also have top 10 rookie practical mistakes?
Like don't let the point of your knife burn off while hardening, centerpunch your holes and sandwich drill with a punch in the other hole for perfect alignment, proper filing technique, don't be breathing burning motor oil and grinding dust, ...
You know, the obvious things that one needs to hear or have experienced (or have common sense) to know not to do.
+EddvT
Good suggestion!
Like how not to centre punch STAINLESS steel and makeing the steel harden up in the spot that you are drilling
How not?
How does that happen?
Thanks
EddvT Love the fact that you specify its experience for some and common sense for others. You just won the #1 post on youtube of 2017 for understanding people's differences in my book.
Shop safety 101 wear safety glasses always ear and lung protection when necessary know when to wear gloves for specific tasks but do not wear gloves loose clothing (that includes a neck tie) or jewelry while operating machinery
When I worked in a machine shop One of the floor managers died by wearing a tie he was a suit and had little machine safety knowledge he leaned over the spindle supervising a coworker and his tie got snagged snapped his neck instantly his head got pulled in so quick it dismembered and crushed his face within the few seconds before the emergency stop was pressed had to have a closed casket funeral his head was unrecognizable
Years ago before RUclips you had to read books or watch a pro in shop to learn how to make knives. Having a guy like Walter showing how to do stuff really makes it easier. Good upload!
Hmmm...what the hell am I gonna do with my Sherman tank crankshaft now?
Find a Sherman Tank missing a crankshaft and take over the world
Ebay!
sharpen it and split logs?
I knew a man who built exotic lamps from engine crankshafts...
Half of a pair of bookends lol
I’ll refit an old kitchen knife first then work up to a knife from a Sherman tank gun barrel.
Good advice.
I have never worked with expensive steel. I’m just a beginner. I use railroad spikes. They’re free. They’re mild steel from I heard, but I’m still learning to work and shape the steel. Great video! Thank you
Hey Walter, I just started making my first knife. Been following your channel for a few weeks and I really appreciate all the knowledge you give out for free. First knife is all by hand so I can learn all the aspects. So much more goes into this than the average person assumes.
Anyways, thanks for what you do. 🤘
My first knife was made from a big ass rasp. The hardness was already there, which makes drilling a bitch, but it saved me from having to heat treat. Now I have a heat treating furnace and a belt sander, and I have made 7 saleable knives.
You talk like a tradesman, I love it haha.
You could have annealed the part you were trying to drill, would have saved your bits from screaming
Hey Walter, thanks for making these videos, particularly the ones for beginner knifemakers. They are super helpful for one such as myself who is just getting into this as a hobby.
number seven premise: If you have no power tools, you STILL dont have an excuse.
Exactly.. I'm hand filing my first file knife right now.. Hardest part is getting them annealed. I've heated them to curie point twice and cooled them in sand.. I think I may end up taking them from curie to a preheated oven next just to slow down the cooling
I like how, when you discuss the foundation/basic skills, that you could transpose the name of any career and it would still be pertinent advice. Great videos. Great knives.
Hey Walter, love your videos. Although I've never made a knife and probably never will, I find your videos and other videos on this subject real entertaining.
Your videos are very well thought out and educational. I am just getting started and this really helps. Thanks!
Another great and very informative video Walter.
I have made a bunch of different knives, scrapers, punches over the years. The motivation for each stemming from, "Ooooh there's a great piece of 'mystery steel' that I can make 'some super tool' out of". All with varying degrees of success but still some valuable lessons learned.
I'm starting out knife making as a hobby. Learning strictly from you. I greatly appreciate the videos!
Good stuff. I took my first blacksmith class in 2000, built a forge that year, had acquired a Bader by 2004. Built my own forges. And just last year finally acquired a 1929 Little Giant power hammer. I hand forged one Damascus billet around 2010 or so and decided I wasn't going to make any more of that without a power hammer. The Damascus is looking good, but I agree trying to do it too soon is a recipe for failure.
Thank you for this. I just started knife making a few months back and got frustrated because I started to try to do something complicated. Now I'm back at it and doing my research. I will take you advice into account and start simple.
Awesome vid bro. Thanks for putting this out there. I've learned a lot from watching your stuff. Keep it up.
Can you make a video showing your failed katana and other projects that didn't turn out the way you wanted?
Thanks very much for this vid. Stumbled upon yr vids only recently... and have watched them MANY times since. Never tried making a blade before but find myself strangely inspired to try. I really enjoy the clarity of your vids. Thanks again.
you are awsome.....this actually inspired me and I tried to make a knife from a previous kitchen knife just to learn and ultimate failure..now I am inspired to try again...thank you.
A lot of this advice applies to much, much more than just knife making. Great video.
Hi, Mr. Sorrels. Thanks again for the awesome video. You was, and still is a great motivator for me to start out on knifemaking. I'm just finishing to build my workshop, and I just got some used files to start work right away. Thanks again, sir. =)
Another great video Walter. Thanks for the tools for thought sir!
My rookie mistake no. 1. Not wearing a respirator.
LepsuSankari bruh tell me about it! My thought was in a smoker I will be fine. Instead of inhaling metal dust.
@ya mooch cooch any fine particle that can enter your lungs is dangerous. It's better to avoid damage than take a risk.
ya mooch cooch late reply, But it essentially cuts your lungs up from the inside out, causing... bad.
My mistake was wearing a very flammable flannel slag hit my arm and instant fire
Also, eye protection for grinding.
Another great video Walter! Made my day :D thank you for all the great content.
this is one of the first videos that i watched prior to trying my hand at knifemaking. after going through a few (and failing miserably a lot) i decided to watch again. its far more informative now that i have went through the process a few times. most of these rules are spot on but you wont really know it until you've done it, then looking back you can say "yeah...i should have listened to that guy" hahah
you're my spirit guide Walt!
The first thing I'm going to do when I finally get a hold of a decent grinder which can not only make handles, but also blades, is become a master jig maker.
Thank god I found this (and a few other videos like it) before I started to make my first knife. My project went well because I started small, used 0-1 steel, from a good supplier, and kept my first attempt very modest. You speak very wisely about artistic vision btw......keep your eye on the horizon and the big payoff, but be mindful that its all the little things and the hard shitty work that gets you there. Many thanks. +1
Number three is great advice for almost any artform or craft!
Thanks for the metallurgy links!
VERY HELPFUL. Thank you Mr. Sorrells.
Just wanted to say thank you for being so informative.
Great video. A lot of what you said aligns with my experiences. I like to make bushcraft knives. When you get in a hurry, quality goes down. Fit and finish suffers. When I take my time, I turn out nice knives that I'm proud to show off.
Hi Walter, I started to make a knife from a file a few days ago...you're right, it is a lot of work to do...I don't have any equipment, just another file lol...but yeah, it works!!! now I am finishing with those small details...thank you very much for all your tips.
Man, I really enjoy watching your videos! Not only for the knowledge about knifemaking (which I really like), but also for the phillosophy and, what is called in portuguese, "world vision" (don't know if there's a proper translation for it, but it's about how you perceive and deal with a situation, more or less).
You are awesome! Big fan! XD
Appreciate your videos. Thanks Walter. Keep them coming please
Great video, thanks.
Great tips Walter! I must admit I've made a few of these myself. Quality video!
+Jamie Heywood I have made all of them, got you beat there ;-))))
+Anglo Spanish Racing Ahah, nice one ;)
This was very informative for me as a starter👍🏻
Thank you! These advices came in the right moment
Walter iu think this is very helpful I am glad I went back to watch it it hsss been 3yrs since my accident and I am heeling better but thank you
Thankyou Walter.
Always enjoy your videos & get a lot of info & confidence belive it or not...
Cheers mate.
Mark & Belinda Richards...
I have been working on knives for about a year. I had two knives tested for Rc hardness. It told me where I was at heat treating. Now I know what to do to improve my knives. All your comments are right on. I want my knives to look rustic, so people will use them. Some knives are so pretty, that people are hesitant to use them. 😊
I was doing ALL of those mistakes before watching this video
Thank you Walter
Thank you very much, Sir. Well done.
Great advise and well presented. Thanks.
Everything you say is on point. I'm an amateur wood guy and it all applies to that as well. Any craft I guess. Great vid and advice
Another good video Walter thanks. I love watching craftsmen work and see what the produce, any craft I just love seeing the skill a man has and the end result. I'm in the UK and a brick layer (think you call it a "mason" in the US).
Hi Walter! I'm a college student and I've been watching your videos for so long. I can't really get set up to use a forge and have nowhere to put an anvil, let alone getting the proper tools. I do enjoy your videos though, keep up the great work.
Thank you, very informative!
Good Start. Thank you!
I started with making small neck knives , so now I do the same ;) thanks for sharing. ThumbZ UP !!!
Thank you for great and helpful video. Greeting from Czech Republic!
Just subscribed, watched a couple, and looking forward to the other videos!
Please make this the first video in your collection. It would have made things so much clearer when I first started working on blades
Thanks Walter! Good list!
Funny, educational, and genuine.... you sir got yourself a new subscriber.
Good advice. Thanks!
Feels like your talking to me. Great video with lots of good info I started a rasp knife and it's an up hill challenge. The handle was the worst so far but I'm not giving up
When I first started making knives I was using mystery steel from i-beams I found in my barn it helped me get the shaping in the crafting down and then when I switched over to using leaf springs and high carbon steels I saw the difference and I haven't gone back since
I appreciate your attitude.
Great video Mr. Sorrell
This goes along also with woodworking, and a lot more haha.
#3 is also great life advice. Love the videos, seen 'em all. When I can afford to, I'd like to replace my Paul Chen katana. You sir are a great craftsman. Cheers!
I just wanna make myself a friction folder and a hunting knife, I'll probably end up making a few for my closest friends and family, but I'm going for a knife in the style I like, shaped to fit my hand and just over all knife that is specifically for me. I really like projects that take alot of effort because if it turns out it's super rewarding.
your still on the couch watching south park and youtube videos.
Thanks Walter!
Good advice. Two points in particular, know you steel & heat treating. I see alot of knife, sword, axe, etc. makers on RUclips that forge everything imaginable, such as, old files, hammer heads, rebar, rail spikes, wrenches, plows points, saw blades, auto springs, gears, and the list goes on. The funny thing is, that these "blacksmiths" heat each of those "different" steels exactly the same & harden/temper each piece exactly the same. The only, general ideal of the steel type their using is by a "spark test". And, their hardening & tempering test is "will a file cut it or skate across it. Like you mentioned, all steel isn't the same. For example, a ball peen hammer, old crosscut saw blade & a metal cutting circular saw blade will each be a different type of steel manufactured & hardened differently, each for different purposes. And a lot of their blades end up only decorative, i.e., railroad spike knives. I personally wouldn't ever make a decorative, edged weapon unless it was also absolutely, 100% functional. But I digress. Keep up the good work Mr. Sorrells.
oldtimer4567 I’ve always been skeptical of this. But wish someone would upload videos of heat treating different steels
Great video, glad I found this channel. Would like to incorporate bladesmithing as part of learning blacksmithing.
Great video and thanks for sharing!
I have found this to be one of the best channels for knifes
Got to say I'm a little bit in love with you after watching this 🤩 Absolutely brilliant video, thanks so much for making this ☮
Great video Walter, I must work no number 10👍
Thanks for the informative video. I'm about 8 or so knives into my career. I learn quickly however. Right now I've found that I'm at the step of not trying to man make it perfect enough. Got in a hurry to sell one. Taking a step back and starting fresh. Considering going and buying that knife back to get it off the market lol
Very interesting, thanks fpr that. I'm just starting to finally looking into making instead of, you know, tinkering.
And regarding gear: technique beats technics every time.
Again, very good videos.
A lot of wisdom in this video. You should think about a book.
OR A PODCAST
#8 reason find a mentor. ive been into this kind of craft for sometime already. i didnt have any tools, or equipment. ive been collecting material to work on as soon as i get my shop set up. ive been going to the flea market and looking for used cheap tools and equipment. i was surprised with what ive collected in about 6 months. i can actually start now. the bigger problem is that i live in a gated town home community 12 town homes to be exact and i dont want to make a racket for the neighbors.
i kinda went off track but Walter i love your videos, and your technique. your voice drags me more into your videos. i love it when you say "old bastard file" ive learned alot from your videos, now i just have to apply the knowledge youve provided.
thanks
This guy is a good friend.
Very very helpful!
Great info Walter. I really enjoy your videos and will hit you up on Patreon when I get my next paycheck.
I have a nice set of Nicholson files coming. Then I'm starting with some flatbar steel from home depot to practice bevels and such. When I feel comfortable that I can work with some 1095 I'll try my hand at making a little carving knife like you showed in another video. If that goes well who knows what I'll do next. Keep up the great videos and thank you for sharing your tips AND mistakes.
Number 3 very well said.
Thanks for all the helpful videos. This is the only one I didn't care for much. Thought it would be mistakes that will help me not jus common sense. lol
This Mistakes apply to knife and to a lot o other skills in life. Great video
Happy Camper good to know I should use o1 steel for guitar making
I’m happy I watched this video while polish my 1st turd. Hearing you say that made me realize it. It’s has several problems I’ve noticed and had the mindset to improve the areas that I can. At the end of the day, the problems are still going to be there: gaps & I hate the handle material!
Moving on, won’t make the same mistake (hopefully).
albertnava02 finished my first and those little gaps drive me up the wall. Will definitely clamp better next go round
Excellent; thank you.
5:28 Don't think that i missed that voicecrack
HA NICE
I saw your comment and literally waited for it to happen, worth it!
Fantástico Walter, cada dia aprendo mais com seus ensinamentos, lamento não dominar a língua inglesa, o tradutor ajuda pouco, mas, estou familiarizando aos poucos, vou fazer algumas aulas de inglês para entender melhor. Obrigado por produzir esses vídeos, excelentes! Muito obrigado! Parabéns!
Ok Walter, this is what we know as exp passed on. Thanks. Your point about masters, gurus is really important (in all trades and occupations) ! This is why I like you tube and internet so much. How do you know your master (boss) isn't doing it bassackwards !!!
Thank You Sir.
THANK YOU!
Super good advice!👍
I know that I want to learn to forge knifes, I'm looking for an anvil or at least a heavy church of flat mild steel. I have accepted that I'll suck at hammering at first. But I'm excited to get started. Luckily my brother started preparing to do this, before I did. He purchased a small forge and a very decent 2×72 belt grinder.
damn it! i was recently given a piece of Sherman tank crank shaft and was about to make the 'sword of griffindore' using three files a hack saw and a big f@#k off hammer...
don't think I can be bothered now! it was going to be awesome too...
just kidding, thanks Mr Sorrells. Your advice and videos are very appreciated and extremely valuable.
I'm currently making a small machete/bush craft knife focusing entirely on practicality with aesthetics a by product of the evolution of manufacture, if that makes sense. planing on overthrowing the global oppressors with a pair of them strapped to my back! Should work I think!?!
Rapier lol
Since most bushcraft people plan for being all alone out in the wilderness they shouldn’t care what a knife or anything else for that matter looks like. They should be concerned with pure functionality and that’s it. Does it do what they want it to or not.
Not is it pretty or cool or whatever
Thanks for the insight very useful
Better video than expected
great video!!! tanks a lot!
Thank you! =)