Lucky Duck Newbie

[RCKnifeworks]

I am so new that I have not even finished reading a book yet. I have spent countless hours researching on this forum, and coming from an auto body background I fantasize that it will serve me well in the sculpting of knife blades and handles. I call my self a Lucky Duck newbie because I have pretty much been given every piece of equipment that I own. I have been fortunate enough to acquire a free drill press, chop saw, table say, vertical metal band saw, and grinder for free. It helps that most my friends are farmers and had multiple pieces of equipment that they felt they would not miss, and were happy to give to me at no cost (other than a knife in exchange once I acquire the knowledge of how to make them). Tomorrow I will be finishing putting my makeshift shop together and hope to start grinding in the near future. I believe it will help my learning curve having the proper equipment to make a knife. Anyways I just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you for all the knowledge that everybody seems so willing to give on this forum.

[Ray Rogers]

RC,

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you're set up much better than most first timers. Also, looks like we're neighbors.....

[Doug Lester]

Yes, it's a steep learning curve. Especially when you start out with big dreams. I know, I've been there. Most of us have. Do yourself a big favor and start out with a simple blade and see how that goes. BTW, abandon all hope all ye who enter here...sorry, I mean welcome aboard.

Doug

[RCKnifeworks]

Thanks for the welcome guys! Ray I had to look up were you lived on the map. I get up to Republic once in a while to do auto claims (I am an insurance appraiser) but that is about as far as I go. I am originally from Odessa, WA.

I plan on doing a drop point, hidden tang, flat grind knife out of 440c for my first knife. I guess we will see how it goes. My neighbor is a gunsmith and he told me this morning I can come and look through all his left over material from his custom stocks. Thought that was pretty cool because most of his stuff is exhibition grade walnut.

[Ray Rogers]

Republic is about 30 miles from me, I buy propane there. I'm originally from Walla Walla.

That walnut should work very well. Since you're planning a hidden tang you might want to look at the Tutorial Sticky thread at the top of this forum. The last tutorial listed covers a method for properly pinning a stub tang. You might want to try it ...

[RCKnifeworks]

My grinder all set up on my new work bench.