Logan

Welcome to the ABS and Forum. If it is possible I would recommend one of the ABS schools, all of your questions would be answered there, also do you know if there is a blacksmithing club in your state, if so

that would be a good place to get to know and learn. A blacksmithing club would be the best place to get your hands dirty and learn how to move hot metal before spending a lot of money, if the ABS school is

out of the question for now.

The ABS have some very good youtube videos as well as DVD's in the ABS store located at the top of the second page. Also the Link sight at the top of the second page to locate supplies and equipment.

You can Google blacksmithing supplies as well as bladesmithing supplies to find all kinds tools equipment and supplies.

Read and study all you can. I do not think there is a stopping place in learning this craft.

Anthony

Welcome aboard Logan!

Starting out, things can seem overwhelming. I would start by say that there is no magic formula.... it just takes time, dedication, and practice. Gathering equipment is best done a bit at a time...unless of course you're independently wealthy! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I've always found that folks tend to learn best when they mix research, with actual hands on.... meaning that as you explore a given area by researching it, put yourself in a position to also do it for real.

If there is specific equipment and/or supplies you're looking for, it's always best to ask for whatever it is you happen to be looking for... that way you will get more specific answers.

Learning about steel is paramount to Bladesmithing..... once you understand steel, things get much easier.

Dovetailing in with the advice already given, knowledge is power and is your most valuable tool. When buying tools you can go to MSC or Production Tool and decide to carefully choose to buy the best quality tools that are known to be the best, will last you a lifetime and produce the best results. Or you can go to Harbor Freight for cheap and easy, resign yourself to doing things over quite a bit and getting all new tools eventually. Unfortunately, the internet, and especially social media, these days is a huge flea market filled with mostly Harbor Freight stuff, and even cheaper, with a few gently used high quality tools here and there. The bad news is that you will need to develop the eye for the good boxes at the flea market, the good news is that the flea market doesn’t charge, except in your time.

Learn as much about your steel as possible. Knifemaking has come a long way over the years, there was a time where suggesting that you know what your chemistry is could result in hurt feelings, but today it is just given that you will be miles ahead in the game if you buy a good quality product that you know. It is the cheapest part of the whole knife, so do a bit of research, determine what steel will work best for you and buy a good quality piece of it.

On the point of actual tools, it has been asked “do I need all of those fancy tools to make knives”, the honest answer is- No, to make knives all you need is good steel, a file and the will to make it happen, you need all those fancy tool to make money, while making knives. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//sad.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> But the one tool that will make everything easier, if even possible, is knowledge.

For that you have a good start, by posting here you didn’t walk into the Harbor Freight of the internet, you lucked out and walked into a large tool shop with experienced people that have their credentials right next to their name. The chances are if the name has “Mastersmith” next to it here, it is not some kid who is really good with a video camera, but has only made two knives in his life before becoming and “expert”. So welcome, and just ask an many questions as you like, that is why we are here.

Thanks all,

This is great info. Nearest school to me would be Haywood, but it might be difficult for me to get two weeks off from work to attend, also the next class isn't until October. I'll have to look around for something sooner and shorter; does anyone know of a good group or school in North Carolina? On the subject of steel, what would you all suggest as a good beginner metal? From what I've read, it seems D2 is pretty popular as an all around and there's an abundance of information on it. I'd like to start with some simple bushcraft knives that I can beat up in the backyard. Right now the most I've done is started practicing sharpening the blades I already own, and even that opened up a can of worms when I started looking into it (apparently I've been doing THAT incorrectly for the last three decades...).

Anyways, really appreciate all the feedback, gave me a great starting point. I'll keep trudging away through the website and posting the random question as they arise.

Logan

Logan

Haywood community college in North Carolina have ABS bladesmithing classes. They also have a hammer-in these are week end type seminar's with short 3 to 4 hour classes on forging, handles and guards

types of steel and many other classes, as well as just meeting other makers from beginners to masters. Do not miss the chance to go to one of these when ever you can. These are one of the best places to have

the many questions you have answered and to watch demo's of forging , grinding , heat treating and many others.

Steel , D2 steel is a air hardening steel not a wise choice for forging. For ease of forging and heat treating , 1075 , 1084 , 5160 are probably the best choices for beginners to start forging with.

Anthony

|quoted:

Thanks all,

This is great info. Nearest school to me would be Haywood, but it might be difficult for me to get two weeks off from work to attend, also the next class isn't until October. I'll have to look around for something sooner and shorter; does anyone know of a good group or school in North Carolina? On the subject of steel, what would you all suggest as a good beginner metal? From what I've read, it seems D2 is pretty popular as an all around and there's an abundance of information on it. I'd like to start with some simple bushcraft knives that I can beat up in the backyard. Right now the most I've done is started practicing sharpening the blades I already own, and even that opened up a can of worms when I started looking into it (apparently I've been doing THAT incorrectly for the last three decades...).

Anyways, really appreciate all the feedback, gave me a great starting point. I'll keep trudging away through the website and posting the random question as they arise.

Logan

For years I have recommended 1084 as the best beginning forging steel available today. I am currently involved in a deep research project of various flavors of this alloy and I am now convinced, more than ever, that this steel is beyond a doubt the best steel for anybody to learn to forge blade out of. It will make a very good knife with very little effort and will forgive just about any mistakes we can make. I just forged a blade out if 1084 today and it was so effortless that I was quite surprised at how few the number of heats it took to do it.

D2 is the exact opposite of this in anything short of stainless. This is one alloy that I have never had a desire to make a single knife out of. It makes great industrial dies but holds very little appeal to me as a knife. With carbides so large that it can barely take a sharp edge, even stock removal would be a task, but forging would simply be a mess. I have many samples of it for metallography work because of those huge carbides but none has been made into knives in my shop.

Logan, Welcome to the ABS forum.

You've received some good advice from the above responders. I would add by saying, please don't be lead down rabbit trails by other newbies. Stay with the true experts. While there are some experts that are not ABS members, as Kevin stated, the credentials provided by testing successfully are beyond refute. Please avoid isolating yourself with beginners. By that I merely mean that there are social media groups that are comprised of beginners and I am cautioning you to always take things presented there with a grain of salt. I was added to the FB page "Bladesmithing for Beginners". While the intention is positive, one has to weed out some of the time wasters or outright misinformation. I remain in the group for the same reason others of us do. To try to help when I can. The point is to always hang with people that will pull your skills up.

Logan, if you add your location to your profile there maybe people willing to help you close by.

The North Carolina Custom Knifemakers Guild is having a meeting on April 28th at Montgomery Community College. Google will give you our website and on it all the details on where and how to get there. Hope to see you in a couple weeks!

I am certainly overwhelmed by the tremendous amount of information on this site. So my question is: where do I start? Which articles should I delve into and in which order?

I suggest browsing through the threads in the "Topic of the Month". Lot's of great info.

The chances are if the name has “Mastersmith” next to it here, it is not some kid who is really good with a video camera, but has only made two knives in his life before becoming and “expert”. So welcome, and just ask an many questions as you like, that is why we are here.

You've received some good advice from the above responders. I would add by saying, please don't be lead down rabbit trails by other newbies. Stay with the true experts. While there are some experts that are not ABS members, as Kevin stated, the credentials provided by testing successfully are beyond refute. Please avoid isolating yourself with beginners. By that I merely mean that there are social media groups that are comprised of beginners and I am cautioning you to always take things presented there with a grain of salt.

I've only been forging blades for about a year and have found that this advice from Kevin and Lin is very valuable. You've found a safe place here to ask questions and receive honest answers.

This is great info. Nearest school to me would be Haywood, but it might be difficult for me to get two weeks off from work to attend, also the next class isn't until October. I'll have to look around for something sooner and shorter;

I know there are a few guys on here that offer classes (2-5 days in length) in their own shop that may be accommodate your work schedule. I believe that a bladesmithing class whether it's at an ABS school or through a reputable individual is invaluable as an apprentice. Actually, it's saved me much more money than the cost to attend....by far. Welcome to the ABS Logan.