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!
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 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
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.
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
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. 🤘
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.
Years ago before TH-cam 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!
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 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
It's good practice but u less it has HC stamped on top it probably won't harden at all, it's pretty much wrought iron. Good for decorative stuff and bottle openers and such, or maybe a basic tomahawk.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Good advice. Two points in particular, know you steel & heat treating. I see alot of knife, sword, axe, etc. makers on TH-cam 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.
If they're having fun and selling them as butter knives or such, I suppose. But nice knives.. mystery metal isn't the best. At least know if it's 52100 bearings or mild steel.. hold time for 52100 is needed but 1055 definitely not.. hardness after tempering will also be massively different, or its 1095 it might not harded at all in the canola oil or whatever.
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, 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.
#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
On All my first knives I left the handle scales way too thick and didn't realize it until I went to the blade show in 98. I met a lot of my bladesmith heroes I'd read about in blade magazine there. I talked to Bill Moran, Jay Hendrickson, Daniel Winkler, and Josh Smith (still a teenager but knew more than I ever will), among others. Every pro knifemaker there knew I was just a broke kid and could never afford one of their knives but just wanted to ask them tech questions and every single one was kind and more than happy to answer anything I asked. I'll never forget the experience if I live to 100. Your in good company as a master smith Walter.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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
@@Grizzydan Pearlite is the stuff to use if you can get it. That funky rock styrofoam stuff you see in some soil mixes. Nonmagnetic then quench in that. If not, leave it to cool in the forge or refractory brick or in the hot ashes of the fire even.
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.
😂 Im the crankshaft guy. Most recently used a driveshaft thinking it would be hard enough for a smallsword to complete a set ive been working on for a few years. Rather disappointed so far but will try to harden it. And there is mistake #10 for me. Never got into tempering. Always tried to use material that was as hard as i wanted and not let it get hot during removal. Love your videos Walter.
good tip. try freehand first it is fun. then get plexi glass stencils after you get into it. Turd polishing lesson is actually a good lesson to learn the hard way at least it was for me. Now I have a neat chronological physical representation of my skills. As long as I make each one even a tiny bit better I feel good about my failures. I feel maybe some of these rookie mistakes are probably important to make and reflect on if you really want to get into metal working.
In process of getting everything needed. Just bought a bag of railroad spikes just to practice on. $10 for like 30 spikes, and plenty of practice. I’m happy.
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.
Good basic info, start small, be patient, stove for progressive improvement, complicated things will come in time, read about metallurgy. Thanks man, easy for us noobs!
my first project was a machete, made it out of a steel leaf spring. Used wood coals, around 3 hours of hammering to give it a Parang shape-ish. While i dipped it in water i heard the metal doing a *ping* and i knew i screwed it up... well. not so bad, had to cut around 1 inch from the tip of the blade to fix the problem. Thanks to my beginner's luck it was not required to do too much sanding paper/file work to give it a good shape/edge. Where i totally blew it was with the handle. made its handle out of the wood of an old axe handle i dont use anymore. All good and nice but the shape of that handle and how i fitted that to the steel ... oh man... and that is one problem i haven't fixed yet. Heat treating the steel... i didn't knew about that when i made that blade. But... as i worked at a factory that made plumbing fittings and stuff(metal) we had a testing lab there ...so i took my blade to test it out. And surprise, surprise... beginners luck strikes again... hardness came out to be 61 hrc and the steel had a carbon concentration of .90 (so i could say between 1085 and 1095) with a little bit of chromium in there(idk how that got into a leaf spring, and neither the guys at the lab had any idea, the rest of the composition was normal for an old leaf spring according to those guys[they said its OK]) but hey, chromium is not bad in a blade considering it was in a very low concentration. I tested it out ...a ton of times, doing small cleaning operations around my yard, taking it out on my outdooring adventures and it held up quite nice. From time to time i sharpen it and giving it a small layer of mineral oil as i dont need my first project to end up all rusty. Idk if it helps, but after i did the file/sanding paper work on it i heated it once again, not too much, it barely started to get a color ... scrubbed half of a red onion (as a guy told me it would give it a darker finish) and then i dipped it in water again. That happened 2 years ago. If i knew then about your videos, things might have gone a bit better for my project, especially with the handle. Oh, and i still dont have a sheath for the blade... cant find a good piece of leather, so i am thinking of making a cordura one.
Chrome is used to make the steel easier to harden since it's much slower to move compared to the carbon, which doesn't want to get trapped inside the iron. Just a little bit goes into stuff like O1 and 5160, which is a common sprint steel.
Two schools that I know of for knife making here in the US. In New Braunfels Texas with Johnny Stout, and up in Beaverton Oregon with Murrey Carter. And I’m sure there are others. Best thing is to look into local hammer ins and you’ll be able to catch wind of anyone offering classes.
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.
I have completed two knives and I'm in the process of contouring the handle on my third none of them are very pretty( except for the handle on the second one I must say it's gorgeous) but they're very tough and will do the job for a lifetime.
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
I've been doing this for about a year now and I do think it's important to remember things like the tips here. I've now been doing it long enough that I look at my old knives and go "I can make that look better." so I keep messing with them and after a while I remember I need to make new ones.
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).
The mistake #1 should be to have clear decision what do you going to make, which purpose and usages will be for that, what you are making. Some people making knives of aluminum, just to keep them as ornaments, while others making functional knives for camping, bushcraft, hunting, kitchen....etc. Good video.
Yep! I want a little pukko style thing to be a slightly harder version of a mora knife. Love those things because they just work, but I wish they'd hold a fine edge a little better for carving, since they're often like 57hrc. Plus, I'm sure my other family members into the outdoors or such would like some too.
It's true. All of it. I just finished my first two knives....and I came back and re-watched this video a couple of times to keep my head on straight through the entire process. #5 and #6 became my mantras as I was filing the bevels. There was a point where my n00b "skills" came into direct conflict with my "enthusiasm." I was messing up as fast as I was fixing previous mistakes....and that was the point where it was time to move on, for me.
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.
I went about getting started in a way that gave me the best chance of success. Saved my shekels and got decent equipment to begin with. Not buying the most expensive, but stuff that works with minimal modifications. I'm in it about 1000 bucks so far.
I'll admit to at at least four of those of those rookie mistakes but after awhile patience I'm still practicing with really cheap metals just for angles movement holding it right experimenting Etc that way if I make a mistake I don't care Louis Marx sheet metal down the road until I get it right I love your videos and quite a few out there epic little bits from each one and eventually I'll start my good knife thank you for everything you do
Generally applicable life lessons: 0) Educate yourself. Learn by doing. Move forward. A journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step. 1). Start small. Kaeizen. Don't try to learn the flying crane kick as your first move. Wax on, wax off. 2) Use vetted, quality inputs, whether materials, books, associations, etc. Garbage in, garbage out. 3) Don't get distracted by glamor and hype. Learn to be competent at the blocking and tackling. Balance lofty vision with the sweaty effort to develop foundational skills 4) Don't chase the boutique high end latest and greatest off the bat. Start with something familiar, simple, and tried and true for starters. You can make mistakes and move on to higher cost, higher risk projects later as you develop more skills. 5) Chasing perfection is the enemy of good enough. Know when to move on to another project. Don't spend your time polishing a turd. 6) Aim high enough to challenge yourself and develop your skills. Don't neglect the finishing touches. 7) Good gear is helpful, but the best gear won't make up for mediocre skill, artistic sensibility, patience, or diligence. Don't be all hat, and no cattle. Get started where you're at with what you have. 8) You don't need a sensei to guide you. Ultimately all learning is self directed. Spend time "in the shed" and trust you ability to learn new things. 9) Don't attempt 505 graduate level courses (Damascus) until you've proved mastery of 101 intro material, and then some. Start with the small and simple to learn foundational stuff. 10) Learn the science and history behind the task, e.g heat treating and metallurgy. Learn the whys underlying the hows.
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!
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. =)
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’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).
Free steel is free steel, who cares if it makes a great knife. It’s the best way to start so your not wasting material. I used a skill saw blade and it made a great knife. I never heat treated it and it holds a good edge. If it was trash then I only wasted my time. I just brought home some 1/4” stainless and some carbon steel. I actually know which stainless it is but won’t waste my time treating it. Just gonna try to make a knife. If I fail then I’ll toss it.
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!?!
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
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
Pima Community College here in Tucson has a serious knife making class. Its an art even welder and machine students have to go through. We do metal like Mettalica.
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 !!!
i really was helped by this. I am a teen and want to be a preacher as well as learn a trade like bladesmithing to compliment my ministry when i have it after my bible college training but i am starting to practice both and want/need a better hunting knife for deer and squirrrel hunting .
I love your philosophy. I was determined to design a good throwing knife and had some success, but was trying to do my heat treating in my forge w/ very inconsistent results. I've given up until I can make a propane oven and a 72" belt sander. I was going to use a 5 gallon metal can for the oven, but I just replaced my toilet and the top tank seems a decent shape to use. Is this inadvisable? Should I just stick with the more traditional metal can?
I have the luck to live near a community college that actually teaches blacksmithing and how to forge knives. It's in the Blue Ridge Mtns. in a town called Burnsville, NC. It is called Mayfield college. I've been making knives since 1992, but if you are near Burnsville, the class is worth it. I trade teaching advanced TIG welding techniques for forge time as I now live in an apt. It isn't all the time, but they have at least one 2 day class for each every semester. Made some beautiful random Damascus there.
I like the comments about vision and still being in-the-moment. Don Fogg, one of our mutual heroes, always said/says that the work is a record of your moment-to-moment attention. You know this from writing, I am sure. The same things hold true for doing and writing science, and for doing psychological assessment and psychotherapy. Those are the only things I know about. I think you hit on a really important idea, though. Keep the vision or the big picture, but be able to expand each component task and immerse yourself into it when its time comes. Anyway, take care and thanks for the videos.
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
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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!
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
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.
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
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. 🤘
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
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
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.
I’ll refit an old kitchen knife first then work up to a knife from a Sherman tank gun barrel.
Good advice.
Years ago before TH-cam 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!
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 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
It's good practice but u less it has HC stamped on top it probably won't harden at all, it's pretty much wrought iron. Good for decorative stuff and bottle openers and such, or maybe a basic tomahawk.
Number three is great advice for almost any artform or craft!
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
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.
Can you make a video showing your failed katana and other projects that didn't turn out the way you wanted?
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.
you're my spirit guide Walt!
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.
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
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
Good advice. Two points in particular, know you steel & heat treating. I see alot of knife, sword, axe, etc. makers on TH-cam 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
If they're having fun and selling them as butter knives or such, I suppose. But nice knives.. mystery metal isn't the best. At least know if it's 52100 bearings or mild steel.. hold time for 52100 is needed but 1055 definitely not.. hardness after tempering will also be massively different, or its 1095 it might not harded at all in the canola oil or whatever.
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, 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.
#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
On All my first knives I left the handle scales way too thick and didn't realize it until I went to the blade show in 98. I met a lot of my bladesmith heroes I'd read about in blade magazine there. I talked to Bill Moran, Jay Hendrickson, Daniel Winkler, and Josh Smith (still a teenager but knew more than I ever will), among others. Every pro knifemaker there knew I was just a broke kid and could never afford one of their knives but just wanted to ask them tech questions and every single one was kind and more than happy to answer anything I asked. I'll never forget the experience if I live to 100. Your in good company as a master smith Walter.
Please make this the first video in your collection. It would have made things so much clearer when I first started working on blades
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.
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.
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.
I have found this to be one of the best channels for knifes
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..
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.
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
@@Grizzydan
Pearlite is the stuff to use if you can get it. That funky rock styrofoam stuff you see in some soil mixes. Nonmagnetic then quench in that. If not, leave it to cool in the forge or refractory brick or in the hot ashes of the fire even.
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.
😂 Im the crankshaft guy.
Most recently used a driveshaft thinking it would be hard enough for a smallsword to complete a set ive been working on for a few years.
Rather disappointed so far but will try to harden it. And there is mistake #10 for me.
Never got into tempering. Always tried to use material that was as hard as i wanted and not let it get hot during removal.
Love your videos Walter.
I also use mistery steel..... And all of them were crap
A lot of wisdom in this video. You should think about a book.
OR A PODCAST
good tip. try freehand first it is fun. then get plexi glass stencils after you get into it. Turd polishing lesson is actually a good lesson to learn the hard way at least it was for me. Now I have a neat chronological physical representation of my skills. As long as I make each one even a tiny bit better I feel good about my failures. I feel maybe some of these rookie mistakes are probably important to make and reflect on if you really want to get into metal working.
Your videos are very well thought out and educational. I am just getting started and this really helps. Thanks!
In process of getting everything needed. Just bought a bag of railroad spikes just to practice on. $10 for like 30 spikes, and plenty of practice. I’m happy.
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.
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!
I'm starting out knife making as a hobby. Learning strictly from you. I greatly appreciate the videos!
Better video than expected
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 ;)
Good basic info, start small, be patient, stove for progressive improvement, complicated things will come in time, read about metallurgy. Thanks man, easy for us noobs!
*"strive for" not stove for
A lot of this advice applies to much, much more than just knife making. Great video.
This guy is a good friend.
my first project was a machete, made it out of a steel leaf spring. Used wood coals, around 3 hours of hammering to give it a Parang shape-ish. While i dipped it in water i heard the metal doing a *ping* and i knew i screwed it up... well. not so bad, had to cut around 1 inch from the tip of the blade to fix the problem. Thanks to my beginner's luck it was not required to do too much sanding paper/file work to give it a good shape/edge.
Where i totally blew it was with the handle. made its handle out of the wood of an old axe handle i dont use anymore. All good and nice but the shape of that handle and how i fitted that to the steel ... oh man... and that is one problem i haven't fixed yet.
Heat treating the steel... i didn't knew about that when i made that blade. But... as i worked at a factory that made plumbing fittings and stuff(metal) we had a testing lab there ...so i took my blade to test it out. And surprise, surprise... beginners luck strikes again... hardness came out to be 61 hrc and the steel had a carbon concentration of .90 (so i could say between 1085 and 1095) with a little bit of chromium in there(idk how that got into a leaf spring, and neither the guys at the lab had any idea, the rest of the composition was normal for an old leaf spring according to those guys[they said its OK]) but hey, chromium is not bad in a blade considering it was in a very low concentration.
I tested it out ...a ton of times, doing small cleaning operations around my yard, taking it out on my outdooring adventures and it held up quite nice. From time to time i sharpen it and giving it a small layer of mineral oil as i dont need my first project to end up all rusty. Idk if it helps, but after i did the file/sanding paper work on it i heated it once again, not too much, it barely started to get a color ... scrubbed half of a red onion (as a guy told me it would give it a darker finish) and then i dipped it in water again.
That happened 2 years ago. If i knew then about your videos, things might have gone a bit better for my project, especially with the handle. Oh, and i still dont have a sheath for the blade... cant find a good piece of leather, so i am thinking of making a cordura one.
Chrome is used to make the steel easier to harden since it's much slower to move compared to the carbon, which doesn't want to get trapped inside the iron. Just a little bit goes into stuff like O1 and 5160, which is a common sprint steel.
Two schools that I know of for knife making here in the US. In New Braunfels Texas with Johnny Stout, and up in Beaverton Oregon with Murrey Carter. And I’m sure there are others. Best thing is to look into local hammer ins and you’ll be able to catch wind of anyone offering classes.
VERY HELPFUL. Thank you Mr. Sorrells.
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.
I was doing ALL of those mistakes before watching this video
Thank you Walter
I appreciate your attitude.
I have completed two knives and I'm in the process of contouring the handle on my third none of them are very pretty( except for the handle on the second one I must say it's gorgeous) but they're very tough and will do the job for a lifetime.
Funny, educational, and genuine.... you sir got yourself a new subscriber.
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
I've been doing this for about a year now and I do think it's important to remember things like the tips here. I've now been doing it long enough that I look at my old knives and go "I can make that look better." so I keep messing with them and after a while I remember I need to make new ones.
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).
The mistake #1 should be to have clear decision what do you going to make, which purpose and usages will be for that, what you are making. Some people making knives of aluminum, just to keep them as ornaments, while others making functional knives for camping, bushcraft, hunting, kitchen....etc. Good video.
Yep! I want a little pukko style thing to be a slightly harder version of a mora knife. Love those things because they just work, but I wish they'd hold a fine edge a little better for carving, since they're often like 57hrc. Plus, I'm sure my other family members into the outdoors or such would like some too.
It's true. All of it.
I just finished my first two knives....and I came back and re-watched this video a couple of times to keep my head on straight through the entire process. #5 and #6 became my mantras as I was filing the bevels.
There was a point where my n00b "skills" came into direct conflict with my "enthusiasm." I was messing up as fast as I was fixing previous mistakes....and that was the point where it was time to move on, for me.
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
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.
I went about getting started in a way that gave me the best chance of success. Saved my shekels and got decent equipment to begin with. Not buying the most expensive, but stuff that works with minimal modifications. I'm in it about 1000 bucks so far.
I'll admit to at at least four of those of those rookie mistakes but after awhile patience I'm still practicing with really cheap metals just for angles movement holding it right experimenting Etc that way if I make a mistake I don't care Louis Marx sheet metal down the road until I get it right I love your videos and quite a few out there epic little bits from each one and eventually I'll start my good knife thank you for everything you do
Generally applicable life lessons: 0) Educate yourself. Learn by doing. Move forward. A journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step. 1). Start small. Kaeizen. Don't try to learn the flying crane kick as your first move. Wax on, wax off. 2) Use vetted, quality inputs, whether materials, books, associations, etc. Garbage in, garbage out. 3) Don't get distracted by glamor and hype. Learn to be competent at the blocking and tackling. Balance lofty vision with the sweaty effort to develop foundational skills 4) Don't chase the boutique high end latest and greatest off the bat. Start with something familiar, simple, and tried and true for starters. You can make mistakes and move on to higher cost, higher risk projects later as you develop more skills.
5) Chasing perfection is the enemy of good enough. Know when to move on to another project. Don't spend your time polishing a turd. 6) Aim high enough to challenge yourself and develop your skills. Don't neglect the finishing touches.
7) Good gear is helpful, but the best gear won't make up for mediocre skill, artistic sensibility, patience, or diligence. Don't be all hat, and no cattle. Get started where you're at with what you have.
8) You don't need a sensei to guide you. Ultimately all learning is self directed. Spend time "in the shed" and trust you ability to learn new things. 9) Don't attempt 505 graduate level courses (Damascus) until you've proved mastery of 101 intro material, and then some. Start with the small and simple to learn foundational stuff. 10) Learn the science and history behind the task, e.g heat treating and metallurgy. Learn the whys underlying the hows.
i love you videos im only 12 and im trying to become a knife maker and your videos help me out alot thanks
Weird, you look like a 50 year old!
Matt Nielsen you don’t look 12 lol
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!
Just wanted to say thank you for being so informative.
I have no interest in making knifes because I dont have the tooling yet I watch this because Walter is awesome!
Thank you! These advices came in the right moment
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
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. =)
Thank you for great and helpful video. Greeting from Czech Republic!
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’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
Knifemaking is all about skill and the dedication it takes to get it
Free steel is free steel, who cares if it makes a great knife. It’s the best way to start so your not wasting material. I used a skill saw blade and it made a great knife. I never heat treated it and it holds a good edge. If it was trash then I only wasted my time. I just brought home some 1/4” stainless and some carbon steel. I actually know which stainless it is but won’t waste my time treating it. Just gonna try to make a knife. If I fail then I’ll toss it.
Thanks Walter! Good list!
Got to say I'm a little bit in love with you after watching this 🤩 Absolutely brilliant video, thanks so much for making this ☮
Thanks for the metallurgy links!
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
This was very informative for me as a starter👍🏻
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
Who in the world dislikes videos like This! Awesome vid!!
Thanks Walter!
Pima Community College here in Tucson has a serious knife making class.
Its an art even welder and machine students have to go through. We do metal like Mettalica.
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 !!!
i really was helped by this. I am a teen and want to be a preacher as well as learn a trade like bladesmithing to compliment my ministry when i have it after my bible college training but i am starting to practice both and want/need a better hunting knife for deer and squirrrel hunting .
Great video and thanks for sharing!
I love your philosophy. I was determined to design a good throwing knife and had some success, but was trying to do my heat treating in my forge w/ very inconsistent results. I've given up until I can make a propane oven and a 72" belt sander. I was going to use a 5 gallon metal can for the oven, but I just replaced my toilet and the top tank seems a decent shape to use. Is this inadvisable? Should I just stick with the more traditional metal can?
Thank you very much, Sir. Well done.
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
First thing i made was a railroad spike seax. I was actually really proud of how it came out as my very first knife
Great advise and well presented. Thanks.
I have the luck to live near a community college that actually teaches blacksmithing and how to forge knives. It's in the Blue Ridge Mtns. in a town called Burnsville, NC. It is called Mayfield college. I've been making knives since 1992, but if you are near Burnsville, the class is worth it. I trade teaching advanced TIG welding techniques for forge time as I now live in an apt. It isn't all the time, but they have at least one 2 day class for each every semester. Made some beautiful random Damascus there.
I like the comments about vision and still being in-the-moment. Don Fogg, one of our mutual heroes, always said/says that the work is a record of your moment-to-moment attention. You know this from writing, I am sure. The same things hold true for doing and writing science, and for doing psychological assessment and psychotherapy. Those are the only things I know about. I think you hit on a really important idea, though. Keep the vision or the big picture, but be able to expand each component task and immerse yourself into it when its time comes. Anyway, take care and thanks for the videos.
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
I started with making small neck knives , so now I do the same ;) thanks for sharing. ThumbZ UP !!!
Another great video Walter. Thanks for the tools for thought sir!