New To Forum And Knifemaking

Hello everyone,
Pretty new to knifemaking. Took a 2 day course in Lethbridge which I highly recommend and was immediately hooked. Currently ruining a couple blades while learning the craft but am not discouraged as I'm learning a lot as I go. Have a decent shop with a 2 X 48" grinder, a kiln, portable metal band saw with table and most of everything else I need.
Any advise would be much appreciated and if there are any knife builders out here in Alberta that would be ok with me visiting their shop for a tour and tips please let me know. Thanks all

Kevin

 

Welcome! And...I think some of our more prominent maker members are from Alberta actually Sounds like you are off to a good start for tooling up for the addiction and there are lots of knowledgeable folks here...welcome to the cult of cutlery.

 

Thanks Prevenge. Appreciate the welcome.

 

Welcome Once your hooked it's no turning back

 

Oh Geesh....better say goodbye to your love one now....because this is the last time you will see them!
Welcome to the addiction!

 

Hi Todd,
I built a knife when I took my knife making course and it turned out to be decent. I have since cut out another drop point and a skinner although have not heat treated yet as I'm trying to fix some mistakes on them prior to doing that. Might just discard...we'll have to see. Having a hard time to get my bevels to line up even with the use of a jig. Trying to sort that out but optimistic I'll get there. Yes, lots of activity in the west and some great resources on this forum. Lets keep in touch.

 

If you finish the knife even if less than perfect it gives you something to beat the crap out of and not worry about wrecking or breaking. Just a small piece of mind what you are doing is going to work.

Oh and Welcome

 

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the forum. I was just down in Lethbridge over the Christmas break. Windy.

Dan

 

Thanks John and Dan. Good advice Dan...I have a couple I'll heat treat later this week even if far from perfect. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Dan, yeah pretty windy down here and flat. You can watch your dog run away for three days LOL. I'm originally from New Brunswick although spent three years in Lacombe before moving here. I really enjoy living in the west. Big shout out to you guys for all your form posts and Don...I'm using a couple of your templates. Big thanks

 

Hey, welcome to the forum, Kevin! Lethbridge is my old stomping grounds and my old alma mater. I'm in Wetaskiwin now. I'm curious, who taught the knifemaking course you took in Lethbridge? By the way, if you want to find more Alberta knifemakers, check out the Western Canada Knife Association website. Lots of us in this province.

Jim T

 

Hi Jim,
I'm actually in Nobleford just north of Lethbridge. I travel quite a bit and moved here so that my wife would have some family close by for support when I'm away. I took a two day weekend course from Dennis Danyluk in Lethbridge. Quite a character and very knowledgeable about knifemaking. He also builds his own belt grinders and kilns. I have a 2" X 48 " he built and have one of his kilns as well. Good guy. He gets students from as far away as Europe. Usually 6 max students at a time although there were just two including myself when I took the course. Charges $300 which includes materials and you walk away at the end of the course with your own custom knife you built while taking the course. Well worth it to newbies to take this course.

 

there is one or two in Alberta, http://www.storchknives.com/
this is one I have heard of but never been there.

 

Geared more towards beginners however if you've made a few knives and are struggling I would suggest taking it. By the end of two days of training and in class hands on knife making you have a fair bit of confidence to tackle some projects on your own. Highly recommend it. As John mentioned storch knives is also a good option. Might be worth a trip to Alberta.

 

I took my very first knife course from Ed Storch many moons ago (many, many moons ago). It was a 2-day course that spanned a weekend and I went home with my very first hand crafted knife. Real ugly, clunky thing, but it was my first and I made it. I still have it.

Over the years, I've had the good fortune to meet quite a few knifemakers and they've all been very generous with their time and knowledge, sharing their experience. Check out this link to the Western Canada Knife Association (WCKA) members page if you want to find some knifemakers close to home:
http://wcka.org/wcka-members-2/

 

Thanks, will definitely join. Looks like a great bunch of folks.

 

Hi Kevin,

great to see you in the forum, as you can see there is a great community here and a lot of knowledge. Im up in Calgary and have made about 7 completed knives, mostly Japanese inspired chef knives. I just purchased a KMG grinder and am wondering if the course in L.A. uses a 2x72? I would be very interested in taking the course to get some grinding pointers before I wreck a bunch of steel.

James

 

Hi Kevin, welcome to the forum.

 

Hi Kevin, welcome to the forum.